Las Vegas’ South Point Casino furloughs staff

At the southern end of Las Vegas, the South Point casino wasn’t willing to wait until May 1 to see if Governor Steve Sisolak would re-open gambling facilities. In a letter obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, owner Michael Gaughan announced the furloughing of most employees starting on May 3.

Noting that this decision was being made with the employees best interests in mind, Gaughan encouraged everyone to file for unemployment right away. “By being furloughed, you will be better off,” he wrote. “You will receive more money from both the State and Federal Government than what you are currently receiving from South Point.”

Employees will continue to receive health benefits until July 31, and the company will cover their insurance deductions up until that point. Meanwhile, some workers can continue to work full time, receiving paid time off credits and two square meals a day.

While many will be fighting to file their unemployment claim in the coming days, something Gaughan admitted “can be difficult” at the moment, he promised there will be a job for them when the crisis is over. The catch is, if the off-strip casino doesn’t see peak visitors anytime soon, it may be a while before everyone is re-hired. “Unfortunately, it may take several months to get back to full employment due to the lack of business,” he wrote.