US casino operators may be chomping at the bit to restart operations following their pandemic shutdowns but casino staff want some reassurances before they return to work.

On Tuesday, Unite Here and the Culinary Workers Union, which represent casino employees across the country, issued guidelines they want to see instituted at all gaming venues before staff are asked to resume their former roles at the currently shuttered venues.

The guidelines include ensuring adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, contact tracing of suspected carriers, employer-paid COVID-19 testing of all staff before resuming work, immunity from retaliation if an employee refuses to work in a situation he/she deems unsafe, and a host of other concerns.

Many of the guidelines involving social distancing measures, equipment cleaning and temperature checks have already been suggested by some major casino operators, but the unions’ guidelines go far beyond that, raising the awkward question of who is going to pay for all these time- and resource-heavy responsibilities.