Furloughed US workers fight to return to their jobs after a year on pause

After a year away, hotel and other hospitality workers fear they may be laid off permanently and replaced by cheaper staff

Like many in the hospitality industry Harry East, a banquet server for over 20 years at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, has struggled with anxiety and the uncertainty of having a job to return to once the hospitality industry recovers from the pandemic - all while experiencing long delays and gaps in receiving unemployment benefits through the state of Florida.

Without action, East and 650 of his co-workers will be officially terminated from the Diplomat on 31 May, and the hotel has yet to agree to provide recall rights to workers that are still on furlough.