I
n an attempt to bolster efforts to comply with the Nevada Governor’s order that everybody wear a face-covering in public, casino operators Caesars Entertainment and Las Vegas Sands have announced that wearing masks in their Las Vegas properties is now a condition of employment.
Keith Salwoski, a spokesman for The Venetian, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that employees who fail to wear a face-covering or mask “will be subject to progressive discipline up to and including termination.”
In a message dated Thursday, Caesars CEO Tony Rodio said “the failure to wear your mask at work will be grounds for termination.” A spokesperson for the company also issued the following remarks about the staff policy:
“Recently, we required all guests as well as team members to wear masks while at our properties. We made this policy change because COVID-19 continues to spread in the U.S., including in areas that previously did not have many cases. Masks and social distancing have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19. Our team members are doing an excellent job complying with the policy, and we’ve been impressed that our guests are quickly adjusting to the new rule. We are working to achieve 100% compliance with guests, but we must take strong action if team members violate the rule to always wear their masks at work except when eating or drinking. Please take note, the failure to wear your mask at work will be grounds for termination. We are taking this action to emphasize the seriousness with which we must all take the efforts to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 at work and in our communities and to promote the health and wellbeing of every team member. “
Guests are still being required under the current mandate to wear face coverings while on casino property.
At Wynn Resorts, company officials say there are no mask issues for employees:
“We’ve not had any employee refuse to wear a mask,” company spokesman Michael Weaver said Monday. “Our experience is that our employees want to keep each other and our guests safe, so non-compliance isn’t an issue.”
Meanwhile, MGM Resorts International has launched an internal campaign reminding workers to follow new health and safety protocols at all times, not just at work.
