Hard Rock Casino Announces Cash Bonus for Atlantic City Employees
Hard Rock International is handing out bonuses to its employees in several properties around the country, including Florida and New Jersey, to thank them for their continued effort and perseverance during the pandemic. The global casino and hospitality chain based in Florida is among a handful of US companies to hand out cash bonuses or increase the pay scale of their workforce following the pandemic.
According to Jim Allen, Hard Rock’s Chairman and CEO, the company is handing out bonuses in areas besides Atlantic City but hasn’t announced where or indicated the percentage of the workforce due to receive the benefits.
Thanking Workers for their Service During the Pandemic
The bonuses are a way to thank workers for providing excellent customer support and service while acknowledging the extra challenges posed during the lockdown. “It’s important to never forget their job during these difficult times. And these clearly are very difficult times. The cash bonus is a small token of our appreciation”, Allen added.
The bonuses in Atlantic City alone are projected to cross $1 million and will be split among the company’s 2,184-strong workforce. While 1,822 hourly workers will receive $250 per head, 197 supervisors and salaried workers will receive $500 each. The 165 managers are slated to receive $1,000 each.
“I’m delighted. We follow a lot of precautionary measures. The process is definitely time-consuming as it involves frequent handwashing, more sanitization, more everything. But we do it”, said Simei Yu, a server working at a restaurant at Hard Rock since it opened in 2018.
Hard Rock had previously handed out cash bonuses in January 2020 worth $2 million to over 2,900 employees in Atlantic City right before the pandemic struck. The bonus given at that time was to appreciate the workers’ efforts in helping the company arrive within 10% of achieving its business targets for the year.
Revenue Figures in 2020
Hard Rock failed to meet its projected revenue in 2020, just like most of its rivals. Casinos in the state remained shut for over 3 months in 2020 and continued to operate at 25% capacity for the rest of the year. But in the months when the casino was allowed to operate, Hard Rock performed well, according to Joe Lupo, the President of the company’s Atlantic City operations.
The combined revenue from table games and video slots during Q4 2020 was up by 12.5% to $83.3 million. At the same time, revenue from the eight other properties in Atlantic City was down by 30% collectively. Other casino operators like the Chinese Enclave of Macau also announced employee bonuses last month. The list includes MGM China, SJM Holdings, Melco Resorts and Entertainment, and Wynn Macau.
Companies in various other industries also handed out cash bonuses or raised the salary of their workforce last year to thank them for keeping the businesses running seamlessly throughout the pandemic. The list of companies includes best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, J.M. Smucker, Hormel Foods, and Home Depot.