As we reported last week, Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel and L'Auberge are the latest Acadiana casinos to announce layoffs.
Today we've learned the layoffs are permanent, and as expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel, owned by the Chitimacha Tribe and located in St. Mary Parish, will layoff 229 employees. The WARN letter to the state, required by law when large layoffs are planned, says the decision was made following a careful analysis.
"Our business has been severely impacted by the virus and has had to make the difficult decision to substantially reduce operations," the letter states. "As a result, we anticipate that we will permanently layoff approximately 229 employees effective July 1."
The positions include bingo and gaming employees, including 35 dealers, and workers in the Casino's restaurants, including 34 employees in the cafe and 21 employees at Mr. Lester's. Another 16 banquet servers are being let go, the letter indicates.
At L'auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, 441 employees will be permanently laid off by August 15. The pandemic has had an impact that is much more dramatic than anticipated, the casino letter states.
"We simply could not foresee that the initial closures of our properties, that were issued by one or two states for a limited period of time, ultimately spread throughout all the states in which we operate and eventually be extended, interrupting almost all business and travel temporarily. These significant drags on our business will likely continue for the foreseeable future," the letter states. "Finally, we could not have anticipated when our properties would be allowed to reopen and how restrictive the new operating conditions would be, and the negative impact this would have on business volumes."
So far this year, casinos across the state and mostly New Orleans hotels have informed the state of several thousand jobs lost. To see the 2020 WARN list, click here.
