Is ‘saving the planet’ harmful to hotel employees?

A nationwide hotel strike is currently taking place, with hotel workers in Boston citing service cuts as a key issue. This includes cuts to daily room cleaning, a practice that was already being encouraged by environmentally conscious travelers before the pandemic as a way to save water and reduce chemical usage. The strike is shedding light on the unintended consequences of these cuts, such as increased workload for hotel staff. While saving water and reducing cleaning products may have positive environmental effects, it also has a negative impact on the workers who have to deal with the additional workload. The strike highlights the importance of considering the human cost of decisions that may seem environmentally friendly on the surface. The hotel industry has faced significant challenges during the pandemic, and the service cuts implemented earlier have remained in place as travel has resumed. This has put additional strain on hotel workers, who are often overlooked by guests. The strike serves as a reminder for travelers to think about the implications of their choices and the impact it has on the workers who make their stay comfortable.

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