Protesters gathered outside the Geiser Grand Hotel on the afternoon of Feb. 14, 2024.

About 10 people gathered to protest outside the Geiser Grand Hotel Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 14, claiming some employees were not paid for all the time they worked.

The group congregated on the sidewalk at the corner of Washington Avenue and Main Street around 3 p.m.

Several held signs with slogans such as “respect your employees” and “Geiser needs to pay their employees.”

Randi Coffman organized the protest. She said her daughter’s best friend is a former employee at the hotel, and that she was unable to pay her rent.

“It’s not OK,” Coffman said. “This isn’t what we’re about. This isn’t Eastern Oregon. That’s not how you treat people. That’s wrong, absolutely wrong.”

Coffman said she started a Facebook page to collect stories from former employees.

Crystal McClurg, a former employee, attended the protest. She claims she was not paid for some of the hours she worked.

Mandy Clark, administrative manager at the Geiser Grand, denied the allegations.

“Geiser Grand staff are and have been fairly paid,” Clark said. “We pride ourselves on that and we usually get staff their pay a day early. I invite any past or present staff who have questions or concerns about their pay or work environment to reach out to me. I’m happy to address their concerns. With more than a dozen years of service at the Geiser Grand, all present and most past employees know me. I have no reason or motivation to short anyone earned pay, nor have I done so. If a mistake was made, I will make it right, and I have the authority to do so.”