MGM Resorts International is furloughing roughly 140 staff in managerial positions at its Las Vegas properties, effective Monday, January 11, 2021..
The furloughs come as local casinos continue to operate under restrictions that restrict and reduce foot traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to MGM spokesman Brian Ahern, the company is anticipating business volumes to remain low in the beginning of the year.
“We are focused on bringing employees back to work when business levels recover,” the statement said. “We are optimistic that, with vaccine distribution and other developments, we will return to higher business levels and staffing soon.”
The affected employees were notified Wednesday. Those with MGM Resorts health plans will remain eligible for benefits, and have access to the MGM Employee Grant Fund, employee resources and training.
The news is just the latest in a series of employee layoffs at MGM.
The company has conducted thousands of layoffs and furloughs since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 63,000 employees were furloughed in 2020, and around 18,000 were permanently laid off in August.
A number of Las Vegas Strip Casinos, as well as other tourist related companies, are continuing layoffs and furloughs as they operate amid the current economic challenges.
In Nevada, casino floors must keep occupancy rates at 25 percent under Gov. Steve Sisolak’s statewide pause, which is set to be in place until Jan. 15. In November, visitor volume in Las Vegas hit 1.5 million, a 57 percent drop compared to the year prior.