A group of top MLB Rangers execs "agreed to temporary pay cuts in hopes of saving other jobs in the organization for as long as possible," according to sources cited by Evan Grant of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The decision was "made to protect lower-level positions from layoffs or furloughs for the time being" while pro sports are shut down. The reductions, which will go into place today, are "expected to result in pay cuts of about 20% for the top executive staff." All those affected "have been notified" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/4).
LAYOFFS IN UTAH: In Utah, Sarah Todd notes the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, which includes the Jazz and Vivint Smart Home Arena, have "begun laying off a small percentage of its workers as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact revenue." The layoffs are "limited to nonbasketball employees." They also "don’t appear to have touched the basketball operations staff" (DESERET NEWS, 4/4).
TOUGH TIMES: In Raleigh, Chip Alexander reported the Hurricanes plan to "make whole" the salaries of their full-time employees during the NHL's suspension. After conducting an exploration of the marketplace and governmental opportunities, the Hurricanes said that the team would take the following steps: Approximately 55% of all full-time staff employees "will be placed on furlough through June 7, and given the opportunity to take advantage of the government's stimulus package." Employees placed on furlough who are not eligible to collect 100% of their full base salaries through unemployment insurance "will be given a bonus by the organization upon the conclusion of the furlough period to be made whole." Furloughed employees also will "continue to receive healthcare benefits during the furlough period" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 4/4).
SUPPORT AT STAPLES CENTER: USA TODAY's Mark Medina wrote the Lakers, Clippers and Kings, along with Staples Center, "established a fund to pay all full-time and part-time workers affected by the NBA and NHL suspending their seasons." A source said that the "fund is around" $7M for the 2,800 Staples Center employees. The source added that the fund "helps the arena's full-time employees and third-party vendors." Medina noted that the fund has "significantly helped" employees like Adelaide Avila, who has worked as a cashier for the past 15 years and "received a check for $964 after taxes on Friday" (USA TODAY, 4/3).
HOOPS TEAMS HELP OUT: In Atlanta, Sarah Spencer wrote Hawks Owner Tony Ressler and CEO Steve Koonin "made it known they would take care of their part-time employees during the shutdown." Hawks Event Security Supervisor Michelle Davis on the gesture said, "It meant everything. ... It lifted a weight off of me. I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, what am I going to do?'" Davis "wrote an email to Koonin that Friday night, March 13, to simply say thank you for not forgetting about the part-time staff." She "got a response about 30 minutes later, with Koonin writing he would make sure Ressler got the message" (ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION, 4/4)....The Warriors Foundation "began sending $1,000 checks to most of the 1,500 part-time, game-day workers employed the Chase Center and the Kaiser Arena in Santa Cruz," where the G League Santa Cruz Warriors play. The "original amount raised by the Warriors owners, players and coaches" was about $1M. In recent weeks, they "stepped up with another $400,000, allowing the team to up the amount for each worker" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/5)
RAYS, METS OFFER ASSISTANCE: In Tampa, Marc Topkin reported Rays officials are "working to finalize details this week of how, and to whom, they will disperse" a $1M fund for game-day employees announced on March 17. Team President Brian Auld said, "We are including all segments of our seasonal worker population in the process. Our goal is to get one million dollars out as efficiently as we can because we know there is an immediate need" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/5). In N.Y., Elio Velez reported the Mets are "creating the Mets COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Fund to aid employees that haven’t worked." The team is putting $1.2M into the program to "provide money to eligible season game day staff, employees that worked 15 days last season and anyone that has lost jobs after the MLB suspended the season March 12" (N.Y. POST, 4/4). The Mets stated that "employees staffed through ballpark operations partners Aramark, Alliance and Impark would receive the 'remainder' of the money left in the fund." Also in N.Y., Bradford William Davis noted when these workers "would receive money and how much they will be left with is presently unclear" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/5).
