In Illinois, Rivers Casino Des Plaines announced it will furlough 1,442 of its 1,493 employees through June 30. Chief Executive Officer Greg Carlin said, “This was an extremely difficult decision and one we desperately hoped to avoid.”
The casino shut down March 15, before Governor J.B. Pritzker ordered nonessential businesses to close in response to the Covid-19 virus. Rivers employees continued to be paid while the property was closed. Company spokesman Dennis Culloton said workers who remain on the job for business continuity purposes will take substantial cuts in salary cuts. However, the casino will continue to pay 100 percent of employees’ health benefits, he said.
Furloughs also have been announced at Rivers Casino properties in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Schenectady, New York.
