Augustine Casino to layoff 70 workers, furlough nearly 200 others
With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to have a major impact on the Coachella Valley, the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians tribal council and Augustine Casino leadership have made the decision to implement temporary furloughs and layoffs.
Augustine Casino will layoff 70 employees and furlough another 200 due to the coronavirus crisis.
Furloughed employees will continue to receive company-paid healthcare coverage. They have also been encouraged to apply for government unemployment benefits during this time.
Augustine Casino first closed its doors on March 15.
From the start of the closure, the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians committed to six weeks of compensation and benefits. This means that the casino continued to pay its employees' wages and maintained healthcare and other benefits.
Casino leaders said that they hoped the closure would not last as long as it has.
Read: Questions about coronavirus? County updates Frequently Asked Questions
“This is unchartered territory for the Augustine family,” said Jef Bauer, general manager. “It is an incredibly hard, but necessary, next step. Thanks to our generous and compassionate tribe, we will get through this and come back stronger than ever. We are eager to bring back our team members, open our doors and resume our reputation as the locals’ favorite casino.”
There is no word on when the casino will be able to open back up. Casinos are closed by the Governor and County health officer's executive orders related to public gatherings and nonessential businesses.
Riverside County currently has 3,084 confirmed positive cases. Augustine Casino's home city, Coachella, has the second most cases with 94.
Visit KESQ.com/Coronavirus for more local updates
Augustine Casino will continue to provide updates whenever they are available. Visit augustinecasino.com for more information.
Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.
