Casino owners across the world are, understandably, interested in re-opening their shuttered facilities as soon as it is safely possible to do so. In many cases, they’re getting ready to open their doors sooner rather than later using new governmental safety guidelines such as those recently published by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. But while management is keen on a quick re-opening, the people who work in casinos aren’t necessarily feeling that same urgency.
Earlier this week, Unite Here and the Culinary Workers Union released their own set of guidelines for what sort of safety and health precautions their bosses should be taking before letting customers back in the door. As our colleagues as CalvinAyre.com point out, many of their suggestions are similar to those being mandated by state governments, but many of them go several steps further. For example, the unions want all casino workers to be tested for COVID-19 before returning to work and want employees who refuse to work in unsafe conditions to be protected from retaliation.
As much as anything, the unions are looking for re-opening guidelines that are mandated by local gaming regulators, rather than corporate boardrooms – and they may get their wish. That’s been the case in Nevada, so far, and it looks as though New Jersey is heading that same direction.
What’s gone unspoken in this discussion is the fact that if casinos re-open at half capacity, they almost certainly will have to furlough or release at least some of their employees. Even the companies that have extended benefits to furloughed workers (MGM Resorts) or full pay (Wynn Resorts) will not be able to provide them indefinitely.
In short, casino management and unions need to get on the same page regarding re-opening procedures and then hope that their customers actually return in some numbers. Otherwise, both sides will experience some very unpleasant times.