Two Northern California casinos will pay workers furloughed by the coronavirus shutdown.
Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Northern California has relented under pressure, and now says it will pay its 2,500 furloughed employees through the end of March.
The largest Indian casino in the region began its two-week shutdown due to the coronavirus, and initially said employees wouldn’t be paid. However, most casinos in the area that closed said they would be paying the furloughed workers. Thunder Valley will also do so and continue their health care benefits at until May 1.
Doug Elmets, spokesman for the United Auburn Indian Community, which owns the casino, issued this statement: “Like other casinos in the region, Thunder Valley will continue to pay team members through the end of the March and reassess at that time,’ spokesman Doug Elmets said in an announcement that was to be shared with employees on Wednesday. “In addition, the team members will have the umbrella of benefits they have chosen, including medical, dental vision until the end of April, at which time we will reassess.”
Harrah’s Northern California Tribal and property leadership told team members impacted by the temporary suspension in operations that they will extend payment of their regular hourly wages or salaries through April 16. This is in addition to the casino paying 100 percent of team members’ insurance premiums, including medical, dental, vision and supplemental benefits, throughout the duration of the property’s closure.
There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Harrah’s Northern California. Tribal and property leadership have been continually monitoring the evolving situation, working to minimize the impact of the crisis on team members.
“Our primary concern is for the well-being of our team members,” said Rhonda Pope-Flores, Buena Vista Rancheria Chairwoman. “These are challenging times for us all and we understand the strain this uncertainty has on our team members and their families. We are working to the greatest extent possible to alleviate our team members’ financial concerns by extending their pay an additional two weeks and covering 100 percent of their medical benefits throughout the duration of the closure.”
All of California’s casinos closed their doors after Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that called on all non-essential workers to stay at home until further notice. Most said they would be closing until the end of March and then reassess.
