A Willowbank worker has spoken of the “hurt and frustration” of staff as the 50-year-old hotel prepares to close.The woman, who did not want to be named, says even though the 46 full and part-time staff are struggling to come to terms with losing their jobs, they are said to “understand that this needed to be done”. Staff are now calling on the public to let them know of any jobs available as they believe they will struggle to find work in today’s economic climate.Willowbank trustees announced this week that the family-run Christian hotel would close “for an indefinite period” on November 30.The female hotel worker had high praise for Willowbank manager Terri Allison, but said: “I’m sad to see that it will close its doors after all these years. The staff understand that this needed to be done and we have accepted the fact.“The leaders of the company haven’t offered much help to the staff but they did say they are sorry. We leave it in the Lord’s hands and hopefully something good will come of this.“Many lives will be affected by this terrible loss and I hope that those with families and other major responsibilities can get back on their feet after getting such devastating news.“In this bad economic time I feel as though many of my fellow co-workers will struggle to find a new job and that’s the sad part.“Everyone is feeling the blows from this global recession. Businesses are trying to let go staff and cut down on cost by any means necessary.”The woman said staff had many concerns, such as how they were going to continue to pay their mortgages or rent, afford childcare or buy presents for Christmas. She said they knew it was “hard out there” and that “the job market is tough” as there were now so many people unemployed in Bermuda. She also called on Government to “take a good look at the crisis and figure out a solution”.The worker told The Royal Gazette: “I’ve been listening to different people after we all got the news on Monday morning and I see the hurt and frustration that they are dealing with.“It’s a sad situation. We all just need to have faith that God will help us through this rough time. “I ask that the public of Bermuda keep the staff in prayers and try to reach out to some of my co-workers to try and encourage them and offer some assistance in any way.“If any one knows of jobs, even if its part time ... Please let us know.”The woman described her time at Willowbank as “a beautiful experience” and she particularly praised the on-the-job training.