Citing ‘significant strain,’ Silverton lays off employees
The Silverton has laid off a number of employees due to the “significant strain” the COVID-19 outbreak has placed on the business and plans to end health benefits for the former staff members Friday.
According to documents obtained by the Review-Journal, the layoffs were effective April 13. Spokespeople for the hotel-casino declined to comment.
“Throughout this pandemic we have taken a serious effort to protect the financial stability of the company,” the letter reads. “However, we now find that we must make difficult decisions going forward.”
The off-Strip property announced in March that it had furloughed 600 to 800 workers, including full-time salaried and hourly employees.
The letter, signed by CEO Craig Cavileer and President Rob Kunkle, says employees enrolled in Silverton’s benefits plans could maintain medical benefits through Friday and a final check would be available to pick up between Wednesday and Friday. Laid-off workers can use up to 40 hours of their paid time off balance.
The company said in the letter it plans to communicate potential return-to-work opportunities after it learns more about the public health crisis and may call back laid-off workers “as business needs warrant from time to time.”
A separate letter sent to furloughed employees on April 10 said the company would continue providing health benefits for furloughed employees on the company’s plan through May 31 or until the property reopens, whichever comes first.
Contact Bailey Schulz at bschulz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0233. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter.
