Non-guests using hotel pool

[bluerose]

Maybe this belongs in the Moral Theology forum, but I want to know what the average “man/woman on the street/web” thinks…

I have a co-worker who has a relative who works at a nearby 4-star resort where the room prices begin at $159/night and average around $200/night. The resort has an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and fitness center which is available for guests to use. My co-worker recently told me that she took her son, daughter, son-in-law, grandson, cousin, cousin’s boyfriend, sister, brother-in-law, a friend, and the friend’s three sons to the hotel, got a keycard from the relative who works there which enabled them to get into the pool room and fitness center, and spent the afternoon swimming in the hotel pool. They even brought a cooler full of food and snacks and drinks.

She and her friend (who also works with us) think it’s perfectly fine to do this and are making plans to do it again throughout the summer. They don’t like going to the public pool because it’s crowded and, besides, “it’s free to go to The Inn”. I didn’t say anything (they think I’m too rigid anyway so I keep a lot of my opinions to myself) but the thought occurred to me that the folks who are paying $200/night for the privilege of using the hotel’s pool and other facilities might not find it so amusing. Not to mention that her relative might lose his job for allowing them to “crash” the pool.

How would you feel if you were a guest and discovered this was going on? Would it bother you? Should I say something to my co-worker or her friend if they bring it up again?

 

[TheWiseMan]

Maybe this belongs in the Moral Theology forum, but I want to know what the average “man/woman on the street/web” thinks…

I have a co-worker who has a relative who works at a nearby 4-star resort where the room prices begin at $159/night and average around $200/night. The resort has an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and fitness center which is available for guests to use. My co-worker recently told me that she took her son, daughter, son-in-law, grandson, cousin, cousin’s boyfriend, sister, brother-in-law, a friend, and the friend’s three sons to the hotel, got a keycard from the relative who works there which enabled them to get into the pool room and fitness center, and spent the afternoon swimming in the hotel pool. They even brought a cooler full of food and snacks and drinks.

She and her friend (who also works with us) think it’s perfectly fine to do this and are making plans to do it again throughout the summer. They don’t like going to the public pool because it’s crowded and, besides, “it’s free to go to The Inn”. I didn’t say anything (they think I’m too rigid anyway so I keep a lot of my opinions to myself) but the thought occurred to me that the folks who are paying $200/night for the privilege of using the hotel’s pool and other facilities might not find it so amusing. Not to mention that her relative might lose his job for allowing them to “crash” the pool.

How would you feel if you were a guest and discovered this was going on? Would it bother you? Should I say something to my co-worker or her friend if they bring it up again?

It really depends on their actions. I’m fine with it, so long as they behave. If they embarrass themselves or cause a disturbance of some kind, they should not even be allowed to go to a pool in a hotel. I think that rule should apply to guests as well. Other than that, I wouldn’t mind.

 

[Nan_S]

Speaking in my capacity as a Certified Fraud Examiner, I can tell you with no hesitation whatsoever that, if this is done without the consent of the hotel manager, this is a form of occupational fraud. It’s called Theft of Service.

This is no different from getting an employee to open the back gate so that you can sneak into Disneyland for the day. This is no different from having a movie theater employee open the Emergency Exit door so you can get in to see a free movie. It’s fraud.

If the hotel manager wants to grant the employees free access to hotel facilities, that’s fine. It the hotel manager wants to grant the employees permission to bring guests to use the facilities, that’s also fine. Permission to bring guests usually has certain stipulations: the employee must remain with the guests, and only a limited number of guests are allowed. But if the employee takes it upon himself or herself to issue hotel keycards to unregistered visitors without permission, that’s a form of fraud.

Pools and fitness centers are hazardous areas. The hotel is required to carry liability insurance that covers accidents - and worse - that can happen with the use of its facilities. Part of the room charge paid by the guests covers the cost of that insurance.

If any one of these 13 unauthorized gate-crashers admitted by the employee had gotten hurt, getting fired would have been the least of that employee’s problems.

**What can you do? **Find out if the hotel has a phone number or locked box for anonymous comments and tips. Then report it. Keeping silent is a sin of omission.

 

[Allegra]

It is my experience that it is very common for employees to be allowed to use the hotel pool and to invite guests free of charge. I’ve also known many hotels who allow community members to use the pool. (for a fee) This really wouldn’t bother me.

 

[agnes_therese]

How would you feel if you were a guest and discovered this was going on? Would it bother you? Should I say something to my co-worker or her friend if they bring it up again?

Never mind how I’d feel as a guest – I can tell you exactly how I’d feel as the relative’s employer – if the employee doesn’t have permission to do this (and I seriously doubt they do), they’d be out on their ear in no time.

 

[Cricket2]

I would advise the hotel manager of this happening and not give my name. Yes the “relative will get fired” and should get fired. This is a form of theft and violation of the hotels “contract” if you will with its guests who are paying for the use and access to the pool.

I would say nothing to anyone outside of this, and let all concerned learn a sad lesson. I would simply wait to hear the news and keep my mouth shut otherwise.

 

[Sunbreak]

If the hotel policy allows guests of employees to us the pool, no problem. But if the employee is just allowing them to use it on her own, that is theft. I doubt whether any hotel would allow an employee to invite so many guests (I counted 12 in the post) all at once to use the pool like they’re having a private party there.

 

[pianistclare]

It is my experience that it is very common for employees to be allowed to use the hotel pool and to invite guests free of charge. I’ve also known many hotels who allow community members to use the pool. (for a fee) This really wouldn’t bother me.

Yes. Many places offer this as a perk to employees. It makes no difference who uses the pool. It gets used. Sometimes they use this to make up fro sub-par pay. I’d mind my own business, in any case. If it were not permitted, I doubt she would have mentioned it at all.

 

[felsguy]

Speaking in my capacity as a Certified Fraud Examiner, I can tell you with no hesitation whatsoever that, if this is done without the consent of the hotel manager, this is a form of occupational fraud. It’s called Theft of Service.

Based on your expertise I yield to your legal opinion above

Then report it. Keeping silent is a sin of omission.

but not so with your moral opinion here.

 

[Et_Cetera]

Let it go. If someone else using a hotel’s pool is causing you this much grief, then feel fortunate that you don’t have bigger matters to worry about. It’s not like you’re paying top dollar to use this pool and a group of 12 teens is sneaking beer and ruining the atmosphere, then I would make a complaint. You don’t seem to be very affected by this. If it’s a real problem or a “theft of service” then rest assured that someone will probably notice (other guests or the hotel’s owner/manager) and report the problem.

 

[Anglewannabe]

I have often been made fun of for being uptight when I voiced opinions about how this is wrong. But it usually occurred when people were trying to get me to sneak in with them. So I understand in a way how you feel. But I also know from experience if these people think you are strict, I wouldn’t be surprised if they exaggerated the details to get a rise out of you.

In any case, you don’t know if this is a perk of employment and I would just let it go

Angie

 

[HopenHappiness]

Well what disturbs me is exactly who’s room was that key card tied to? My experience is that you need a valid key card to a valid room to use the amenities. Or maybe they just gave them a master key card that could get into anything.

Or how about the guest who might of had the pool to themselves (that is always nice) but since the 13 showed up free of charge now they need to share with splashing kids.

I also consider it theft and worse off your teaching your kids it is ok to be dishonest in certain cases. And as they get older and do things they shouldn’t be doing, it is ok because mom and dad does them. It is just plain wrong on so many levels.

 

[EasterJoy]

I would just say, “Wow, that is nice. Are you sure the management is OK with that, though? I’d be concerned about putting someone’s job at risk because they’re trying to be nice. You do have to be careful about that. Some people are too big-hearted for their own good.” Other than saying that you’re surprised that the permission is real, there isn’t much you can do. It is not as if you are a paying guest who has the standing to complain.

 

[Nan_S]

So the employee issues a keycard without a valid room rental, and lets the thirteen in without informing management.

Then one of the thirteen slips and cracks his head open on the wet concrete… or drops a fitness room weight on a paying guest’s foot… and 911 has to be called. It happens.

Now what?

Does the mama of the gate-crashing kid who cracked his skull get to sue the hotel? Yep.
Does the paying guest with the broken metatarsal bone get to sue the hotel? Yep.

Does management have to pay the claims? Yep, because an employee who was authorized to issue keycards let the thirteen in, even though he/she violated the rules for issuing keycards. Yep, because management didn’t have or enforce controls to verify that keycards were only issued to authorized guests.

Does the employee get to keep his job? Nope.
Can the employee be held financially liable in court for paying a portion of the claims? Yep.

That’s the nice thing about 800 numbers for anonymous tips and comments. You can report a suspected problem with no repercussions. If the employee is violating company policy it should be dealt with. If the party is authorized, it’ll be no harm, no foul.

 

[theCrow]

Definitely let it go. We were all kids once, right? And it’s been so hot lately, so let the kids swim and have fun. Agreed much other things to worry about lol.

What’s next? Report kids who order water and fill the cup with soda?

 

[mommy_k]

Being dishonest does not start with robbing a bank. It starts with little things. How do we draw the line if some dishonesty is ok and some is not? The lines get blurred moreso when things like this are taken advantage of in a dishonest way, and people get away with it.

If they are swimming without permission-i think it’s wrong.

 

[Brandall]

Maybe this belongs in the Moral Theology forum, but I want to know what the average “man/woman on the street/web” thinks…

I have a co-worker who has a relative who works at a nearby 4-star resort where the room prices begin at $159/night and average around $200/night. The resort has an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and fitness center which is available for guests to use. My co-worker recently told me that she took her son, daughter, son-in-law, grandson, cousin, cousin’s boyfriend, sister, brother-in-law, a friend, and the friend’s three sons to the hotel, got a keycard from the relative who works there which enabled them to get into the pool room and fitness center, and spent the afternoon swimming in the hotel pool. They even brought a cooler full of food and snacks and drinks.

She and her friend (who also works with us) think it’s perfectly fine to do this and are making plans to do it again throughout the summer. They don’t like going to the public pool because it’s crowded and, besides, “it’s free to go to The Inn”. I didn’t say anything (they think I’m too rigid anyway so I keep a lot of my opinions to myself) but the thought occurred to me that the folks who are paying $200/night for the privilege of using the hotel’s pool and other facilities might not find it so amusing. Not to mention that her relative might lose his job for allowing them to “crash” the pool.

How would you feel if you were a guest and discovered this was going on? Would it bother you? Should I say something to my co-worker or her friend if they bring it up again?

Probably when being told such, I would say something to the effect of “and the management is okay with that?” If I had not bothered to ask that question, I probably wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. I’m the type that assumes the best in people and would assume that management was okay with it. Either way, I wouldn’t make a big deal of it. If she and her friend are doing something in the wrong, they know it. It’s on them. I normally don’t spend my time trying to get every sinner to acknowledge their sin.

 

[signit]

Probably when being told such, I would say something to the effect of “and the management is okay with that?” If I had not bothered to ask that question, I probably wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. I’m the type that assumes the best in people and would assume that management was okay with it. Either way, I wouldn’t make a big deal of it. If she and her friend are doing something in the wrong, they know it. It’s on them. I normally don’t spend my time trying to get every sinner to acknowledge their sin.

That’s really what it all depends on.

If management is okay with that, it’s okay.

 

[pianistclare]

That’s really what it all depends on.

If management is okay with that, it’s okay.

Agreed. I doubt management didn’t “notice” 13 people and a cooler. They watch their property very closely, in my experience.
The problem also, is that when we point fingers, we have to be extra pure. And none of us are. I have a lot of friends that work for the airlines. They fly free. I could think "wow, they get to fly free because we pay a lot for tickets. But I don’t begrudge them. I just think (if I think about it AT ALL since it’s none of my business) that they work for a great company.
Wish it were me, but it’s not.

 

[BillP]

I would advise the hotel manager of this happening and not give my name. Yes the “relative will get fired” and should get fired. This is a form of theft and violation of the hotels “contract” if you will with its guests who are paying for the use and access to the pool.

I would say nothing to anyone outside of this, and let all concerned learn a sad lesson. I would simply wait to hear the news and keep my mouth shut otherwise.

If you’re going to rat them out, you should at least have the integrity to do it under your own name.