For the past few years, many lawmakers have been trying to see the national minimum wage increased to $15. Efforts have failed, but for individual companies, some see the potential in providing higher pay. When employees are compensated well, they work harder and provide quality service to guests of the business. For the Rivers Casinos in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, non-tipped employees just found out they are now going to see their pay go up to the $15 mark.
Major Raise Increase
For employees of Rush Street Gaming properties in Pennsylvania, the raise will be a great way to bring in more money as the venues start to see more travelers this summer. The raise is only for non-tipped employees because those who earn tips already make over $15 an hour when considering the tips earned and the hourly rate.
According to a press release by the company, many of the tipped employees already average a good salary. Full-time dealers at the properties average around $45,000 to $50,000 in yearly income. CEO of Rivers Casino and Rush Street Gaming, Greg Carlin, stated that the company believes in paying a living wage and that it is more than a recruitment strategy. It’s just the right thing to do.
The company behind the Rivers Casinos plans on hiring new employees soon since the COVID-19 restrictions are coming to an end. People are going to be willing to travel more this summer and the Rivers venues expect the number of travelers to increase dramatically, hence the need for more employees.
The Assistant General Manager of Rivers Casino Pittsburgh Bud Green also commented on the wage increase, stating that job candidates will have access to family-sustaining wages, plus great benefits, and a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has 400 non-tipped positions and Philadelphia has 200 non-tipped positions. Each of these employees will be able to take advantage of the pay raise. Rush Street expects to provide the $15 minimum wage increase for non-tipped employees at all of its Rivers Casinos unless it is precluded in labor agreements with a specific venue.
Helping Heal from the Pandemic
The increase in minimum wage will certainly help the employees who work at the Rivers Casinos. For over a year now, employees in the casino industry have struggled due to lower hours or being laid off due to the lower capacity levels.
Now that casinos are preparing to get back to 100% capacity, more employees can come back to work or be hired by the casinos. This helps the workforce to get back to normal and catch up on missed income from the past few months during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Casinos and employees are ready for normalcy, and hopefully, that will start this summer. As more residents in the United States are taking the COVID-19 vaccination, people feel more comfortable traveling and visit casino destinations.
It will be nice to see the non-tipped employees back to work at Rivers Casinos in Pennsylvania, with the ability to earn more than ever before.
