As Nevada slowly reopens, gaming comeback could be a long road

It was a sickening move that led to the unprecedented closure of Nevada casinos on March 18, with as many as 276, 300 jobs lost in the gambling and tourism industries.

Now casino operators face an even tougher problem: How many workers will they bring back to work, in line with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines set out by Nevada gaming regulators last week? How long will this "new normal" last, regardless of how quickly casinos "get going" and increase their workforces?

After two months of closure to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Nevada's gaming industry is set to resume operations, likely in late May or early June. But casino leaders say the process will be slow. Companies with multiple resorts have said they will open only some resorts at first, while other casinos will remain closed until business picks up noticeably.

For example, MGM Resorts International will open New York New York and Bellagio, but 11 other properties on the Strip will be closed. Station Casinos will initially open most of its regional markets, but its four other Palms properties will remain on the sidelines. Boyd Gaming has resumed opening nine of its regional casinos in Las Vegas, but said it is waiting to see what happens with its three casinos in downtown Las Vegas.

"The casinos and suppliers will never be fully back in business, and staffing will be phased in to protect customers, suppliers and employees," said Jennifer Martinez, CEO of Consult HR Partners, who has held various HR positions among casino operators and casino and gaming equipment suppliers.

Martinez, one of only three HR consultants with gambling experience to speak to the Nevada Independent about the casino hiring dilemma, said the gradual reopening of casinos on the Strip and in local markets could create a temporary dip, at least in the state, before being frozen out.

"Operators and suppliers will first determine the number of work zones that should not be closed and the positions required for each subsequent phase," said Martinez, who advises both gambling and non-gambling operators. "So, according to the latest protocols, employees in security and safety services, cleaning and facility maintenance may be allowed to return to their original grades or higher, while other positions such as event instructors and bartenders may be hired at a later date."

The number of casino staff may be determined by some advice from the gaming control board, which restricts himself as a limit to filling, and is restricted by less than 50 % of the most spacious resort. , Social intervals in social areas, on restaurants, and space between slot machines when cutting the number of tables for board games.

"Avion consulting director Michel Dytondo says," In operation, it takes time for a casino to recover functions. It cannot be returned to the staff's level immediately, and when returning employees. I want to experience myself safely.

Kim Vertuo, a manager of al l-i n-leadership, thinks that the actual shrinking of game facilities is temporary and is a rudimentary in demand and supply. However, she recommends that the return of workers is "slowly and steadily" and "prosperous tourist infrastructure and the best demand".

She mentioned an expert who predicts a gentle rise since 2021, saying that the gambling industry would be necessary until 2023 to return to the pr e-pandemic level.

"For example, prohibit overtime, freeze how to disclose vacancy, analyze the current bonus system." These configurations in business models are stabilizing the profit and travel in the future. It shows cost reduction.

Lon g-term profit

In 2019, Nevada's gambling company casinos reached $ 12. 10. 3 billion, which were actually three indicators in the situation for the first time in the last 12 years, or more than $ 12 billion annually. In January and February before COVID-19 shutdown, Casino in Nevada came out of more than $ 1 billion gambling business. Later, Martofsky predicted 40 % more than a year before the state realized billions of benefits from the gambling business.

In the fiscal year in 2019, the total income of Casino-Gambling-Great-Great-Great-Great, in line with the Gaming Council, exceeded $ 240 and $ 5 billion.

When the casino was closed, Las Vegas's research agency applied an analysis that 276. 300 employees were directly involved in gambling commercial and tourism in their own research for the Nevadi Resort Association. However, considering the preliminary position, the gambling and tourism are 450.

According to Applied Analysis, gaming and tourism create a $ 20 billion wage and an annual financial product of $ 75 billion each year, accounting for about 45 % of the state's total production.

Hiring in the Casino Industry in Nevada has been cut off twice in the past 20 years. September 11, 2001, a multiple terrorist attacks suspended from traveling in the United States for almost one year, effectively delaying visits to Las Vegas. And the Great Recession, which began in 2008, delayed the development of the gambling industry for several years.

However, regardless of the size, all casinos in Nevada are closed, and in fact, all employees working in this industry are left behind, and whether they can find a job in the next few months when the pandemic continues. There is nothing to compare than what you are worried about.

According to Martinez, casino employees, like ordinary people, are worried about returning to the casino.

"Employees are excited about their personal defense techniques and safety measures, including their personal defense techniques and companies to protect employees' health and safety," said Martinez. "This also depends on the economic situation of employees and the comfort of returning to work without a cure or a cure that has been proved to be inexpensive at this time."

Vacation and dismissal

As a result of a decline in profits, most casinos left an employee to retire at the end of March, leaving only a certain number of managers and time employees to continue the closed branch.

Vert u-O -o explained that "Layoff" is an employment term and is usually understood as a shor t-term unpaid leave due to "special circumstances." COVID-19 applies to this definition.

"In general, employees are not paid for the time they did not work, but they stay in the workplace and have the right to benefit the employer's welfar e-based chart," says Virtuoso. I mentioned. "There are all opportunities to apply for unemployment allowances for employees on leave.

According to the textbooks of the Dietndo, the reemployment process is much easier and quicker when an employee is on vacation. Apart from this, dissection reduces the need for lon g-term identity surveys.

"I don't need a long process. This simply changes the status," she says.

Casino operating companies have various approaches for human resources.

Boyd Gaming, which operates 29 casino facilities in 10 states, paid employees salaries until April 10, and then fired a lot of 25, 000 employees nationwide.

Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts are the only casino companies that haven't stopped paying wages since mid-March. Last week, Wynn executives said they would spend $250 million to pay 75 days' worth of wages to 15, 000 employees who don't have corporate facilities in Las Vegas or Boston.

"We've invested heavily in our culture," CEO Matt Maddox said last week. "You build a culture over years and years and years, and it's easy to destroy that."

Meanwhile, some companies have resorted to mass layoffs, most notably MGM Resorts, which last month laid off 63, 000 workers in eight states. Last week, MGM's acting CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the company would begin laying off workers under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, which requires employers to give at least 60 days' notice before making mass layoffs.

"Due to the current circumstances, we believe that some of our colleagues may not be able to return to work this year," Hornbuckle wrote in the letter. "Due to the ongoing uncertainty in our industry, we do not know how many employees will be able to return to work in the coming months."

The company said in a separate statement, "While we hope that our industry will recover quickly, we believe it may take some time for business to return to pre-pandemic levels. We are working to be as transparent as possible with our employees so they can plan their actions and take the actions that are best for them and their families."

Station Casinos has committed to paying its 14, 000 employees through May 16, but on May 2, it announced it would lay off 39% of its roughly 5, 400 full-time employees on that date.

In a March 25 letter obtained by the Reno Gazette Journal, Treasure Island, owned by billionaire Phil Ruffin, informed the Nevada Department of Employment Services that it was laying off 2, 225 employees, which could trigger a WARN Act warning. The Treasure Island Hotel has been accepting reservations since May 22, but it's unclear if it will be able to open.

Labor consultants said they wouldn't be surprised if other casino companies make layoffs.

Virtuoso, who worked as a human resources manager at MGM for several years, said gaming companies have spent the last seven weeks reviewing their operating results, cash flow projections and future customer spending and travel habits. She called the numbers "staggering."

Future measures depend on when Governor Steve Sisolak will allow the casino to resume.

"Many casino executives expected to resume from mi d-May to early June and recall employees, but since the plan was canceled, we had to change the business model and plan last week. The gone, and as a result, further layoffs have occurred, "said Birchuoso.

Martinez said, "Labor costs are one of the highest operating costs in every business, regardless of industry.

"Casino will continue to manage costs in the most efficient way.

Use of PPE

Gaming Control Board (Gaming Control Board) has been announced in a recent guideline on the resort, in accordance with the requirements of government and public health in the use of face masks and other personal protective equipment. It must be provided to employees. The judgment whether a mask is needed is left to the casino.

Vertu Ozo stated that it was important for the resort manager to communicate new policies, procedures, guidelines, especially temperature control, gloves, masks, facial shields, etc. to the entire facility.

"The environment may look different, but customer service, hospitality, and outstanding are the Las Vegas lifeline, at the forefront of new experiences.

Martinez said that if employees could spend more comfortably, they would encourage the casino operators to allow the use of masks and personal protective equipment, and pointed out that such use could maintain customer trust.

The Howard Stats is a freelance gaming reporter of Nevada Independent paper and the edito r-i n-chief of the CDC gaming report. He has been a journalist in Nevada for 30 years. The contact information is [Email Protected]. On Twitter, Howard Stats < Span> future measures depend on when Governor Steve Sisolak will allow the casino to resume.