MGM, a renowned hospitality and entertainment company, is laying off the majority of its Las Vegas entertainment staff. These official layoffs will begin on August 31st. The resort already furloughed 63,000 employees in May.
Departments hit the hardest are entertainment and sports. Employees received an email on July 27th announcing companywide layoffs. They will lose benefits effective September 1st amidst a global pandemic.
While the layoffs are unfortunate news, MGM remains compliant to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), giving employees about a month to plan accordingly.
In addition, MGM Director of Media Relations, Brian Ahern, released a statement about the layoffs, noting:
“it is unlikely that concerts and other entertainment events will be returning to Las Vegas in the next month, [and] it has unfortunately impacted the employees who support those shows. We’ve pledged to be as transparent and supportive as possible with employees and are working to reduce the impact and help them moving forward.”
Moreover, the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak leaves many industries and business unsure of a confirmed reopening date. As cases go up across the US, many cities and states are enforcing stay at home policies. The state of Nevada is tightening restrictions after a spike in Coronavirus cases. As a result, bars must close, and masks must be worn.
MGM owns a massive amount of property on the Las Vegas Strip. Well-known resorts like The Bellagio, Aria, Mandalay Bay, and The Mirage all belong to the international company.
Likewise, Las Vegas is hugely reliant on live events and entertainment. The restrictions of the pandemic leave the city at a loss and above all, in a state of uncertainty.