FLAGLER COUNTY, Florida — Not getting paid on time.
That’s what’s happening with some employees at Marineland Dolphin Adventure, one of Florida’s oldest theme parks.
Those impacted by the late payments reached out to First Coast News with concerns.
“It’s really hard; It’s really hard," one woman, who First Coast News is not naming, said. Her relative works at Marineland Dolphin Adventure, the popular Flagler County oceanarium where guest can play with bottlenose dolphins. She said her relative is receiving late paychecks.
"We’re worried if we can pay our bills when we should not have to be worrying about that," she said.
She said one time, her relative’s paycheck was nearly a month behind.
"We’re still three week behind on being paid," she added.
First Coast News reached out to the director of the Marineland Dolphin Adventure. She confirmed that some employees have not been getting paid on time. She said she does not know why, and she has inquired about it on behalf of her employees, noting the decisions are made above her head by the company that owns Marineland.
That company is The Dolphin Company, based in Mexico. It owns various other animal-based parks in the United States and in other countries.
First Coast News reached out to The Dolphin Company via email and by phone. Each time a voice mail greeting answered, and each time it would disconnect the call before we were able to leave a message. First Coast News has not heard back from The Dolphin Company.
Meanwhile, Marineland Dolphin Adventure - billed as the world’s first oceanarium - remains open. And the relative of the woman continues to work - not knowing when he’ll get paid next.
“This has nothing to do with Marineland itself," the relative said. "It’s whoever is in control of the money is not allocating those funds correctly to ensure their employees will come to work for them and to take care of the animals and ensure the animals’ safety.”