Across MGM Resorts properties, 18,000 employees were affected. Many had been hoping to be called back before the end of August - a date the company had previously said would be a legal deadline for formal separation. The employees affected by the MGM decision have largely been laid off or furloughed without pay since April. He added, “We’ve had a good relationship, and I take them at their word.” “MGM is committed to bringing these employees back, ASAP, so that’s our goal,” Sarno said. He said he was encouraged that MGM Springfield followed through during the pandemic with a plan to contribute $16 million to a project that will create 74 market-rate and workforce housing units, part of the redevelopment of a historic portion of downtown near the casino. Sarno said in an interview that local and corporate leadership at MGM resorts has assured him that the casino will be able to make a strong return as a contributor to the local economy once the restrictions related to COVID-19 subside.
It had 485 people working there at the end of last year. And Plainridge Park, the slots-only casino in Plainville, declined to say how many people had returned to work after the shutdown forced it to furlough all but a skeleton crew for months.
