On June 25, 2025, the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) proudly hosted its inaugural People and Culture Retreat, bringing together HR professionals, People Managers, and industry stakeholders for a dynamic day of education, empowerment, and strategic insight.
MORNING SESSION
Morning Session focused on Navigating the Collective Agreement and Labour Code, Moderated by Celia Roberts Morgan.
The morning panel featured:
• Chester Hughes, Deputy General Secretary, Antigua Barbuda Workers Union
• Lisa John Weste, Attorney-at-Law, Thomas, John & Weste
• Hollis Francis, Attorney-at-Law, HEF Law
The panelist explored current Collective Agreement negotiations and how HR teams can navigate key issues like:
– Public holiday entitlements
– Meal allowances
– Staff probation & disciplinary policies
– Standardizing employee handbooks (launching Q4 2025)
Participants also addressed operational challenges facing People Managers today, including probationary periods, harassment, marijuana usage, absenteeism, and the ongoing need for staff training.
Mr. Chester Hughes urged HR professionals to become deeply familiar with both the Collective Agreement and the Labour Code, noting that this knowledge is crucial to maintaining compliant, effective, and employee-centered operations.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Afternoon Session focused on Mental Wellness and Wellness as a Business Strategy, moderated by Laurie Louard,
The afternoon session featured presentations from:
• Dr. Teri-Ann Joseph, Deputy Chief Medical Officer
• Isha Joseph-Moore, Executive Head of People & Culture, Jumby Bay Island
• Chester Hughes, ABWU
• Harriet Warner, Counselor
• Jamion Knight, International Psychotherapist and former United Nations Official
Tackling Absenteeism: A Sector-Wide Wake-Up Call
The afternoon retreat began with a compelling look at absenteeism, led by Isha Joseph-Moore (Executive Head of People & Culture, Jumby Bay Island) and Chester Hughes (Deputy General Secretary, ABWU), who shared sobering statistics that revealed the scale of the issue:
📊 Based on a sample of just 7 ABHTA member properties:
• Sample size: 892 employees
• Over 6,000 workdays lost
• Financial impact: EC $1.4 million
They emphasized that absenteeism is not just a financial concern—but a workforce development issue. They called for a tripartite approach between Industry, Government, and the Education Sector to combat its root causes.
🧘♀️ Actionable Wellness Strategies
Harriet Warner shared tools employers can implement immediately:
– Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
– Normalize mental health conversations
– Workplace social events that include family
– Flexible scheduling for parents
– 5–10 minute mental health breaks
– Wellness check-ins during team huddles
– New staff mentorship programs
– Workplace wellness & sports clubs
– Calm spaces for private conversation
Medical Insights: The Cost of Mental Illness
Dr. Teri-Ann Joseph presented critical data on the global and local cost of untreated mental illness:
• 1 in 5 employees experience a mental health issue
• Many hide their diagnosis out of fear of discrimination
• Mental illness is understood poorly, heavily stigmatized, and deeply disabling
• Global cost of mental health issues:
o $2.5 trillion in 2017, projected to rise to $6 trillion by 2030 (WHO)
• Workplace stress and depression remain leading causes of lost productivity, increased sick leave, and early retirement
🧍♂️ Men’s Mental Health & Safe Spaces
Jamion Knight delivered a powerful call to action: support men’s mental health through Psychological First Aid frameworks and intentionally created safe spaces where vulnerability is met with respect, not judgment.
From Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) to shift adjustments for working parents, speakers shared tools to help organizations build more supportive, engaged, and emotionally intelligent teams.
The retreat was overwhelmingly well-received, with participants commending the honest dialogue and practical tools presented throughout the day. Attendees have called for similar events to be hosted more frequently.
The ABHTA is pleased to announce that a follow-up People and Culture Retreat is being planned for October 2025, continuing its commitment to “Investing in People, Powering the Future.”