The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida announced the furloughs of 1,527 employees will be extended until further notice. Many of them have not worked since the Covid-19 pandemic forced casinos to close in March. Hard Rock issued a statement noting it hopes to
rehire many of the impacted employees. A “significant portion” of them worked at the still shuttered Hard Rock Live, one of the few venues that remain closed, according to the statement. The property, known for its guitar-shaped hotel, reopened June 12 with new Covid-19-related health and safety protocols.
The statement read, “The filing represents a worst-case scenario to meet the government’s requirement for advance notice. The Seminole Hard Rock hopes to rehire a number of these team members, as business continues to improve. A majority of the team members at the complex are already back at work.”
The furloughed workers received two weeks of continuous pay after the complex closed March 20. Officials said the employees were able to use accrued paid time off, received additional paid time off and could borrow against future paid time off, which was forgiven. Their health insurance has been paid through the end of September. Seminole Gaming also distributed multiple grocery store gift cards to team members making less than $50,000 per year.
Observers said extended furloughs are a positive move since that means Hard Rock will not eliminate the jobs. However, in a Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, filed by the company with the state of Florida, Hard Rock said if the employees are not recalled by December 31, their layoffs “will become permanent.”
