Utah Jazz, Salt Lake Bees, And Vivint Smart Home Arena Furlough Employees
May 8, 2020, 11:07 AM | Updated: 11:16 am
The Miller family lets the public take self-guided tours of the renovated Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Larry H. Miller group of companies began the process of furloughing employees Friday morning. The reduction includes employees of the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake Bees, and the Vivint Smart Home Arena.
In a statement from LHM Sport and Entertainment President Jim Olson said the company worked to retain employees amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“For the past eight weeks during the mandated hiatus, our employees continued to receive compensation and benefits while other cost-cutting measures were implemented.”
The Jazz were the first team to begin layoffs in the NBA. On April 3, the team laid off a small percentage of the workforce. The LHM Group made larger cuts across the company.
The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies announced it was laying off employees from some of its approximately 80 companies including the @UtahJazz.https://t.co/GLJSlzBa8T
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 3, 2020
“These are unprecedented times and, like other companies across all industries,” the statement read. “The sports and entertainment world has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Olson said the company plans to retain the employees at the end of the work stoppage.
“Those furloughed will remain LHMSE employees and maintain healthcare benefits during the furlough period.” The statement read. “We anticipate that these furloughed employees will return to their positions at the end of the furlough period.”
The layoffs included members of Megaplex Theaters.
“We are grateful for the contributions of these valued colleagues,” Olson said. “And we will be doing all we can to support them during this transition.”
The NBA will open practice facilities on May 8.
The @UtahJazz will follow soon after.#TakeNote https://t.co/gmwyJaZyuJ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 7, 2020
The Jazz plan to begin welcoming players back to the practice facility in the coming days. The NBA is allowing franchises in cities with looser shelter-in-place restrictions back onto company property.
This story will include updates throughout the day. The company has not announced further furloughs.
