Utah Jazz Laying Off Staff Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – On Friday, the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies announced it was laying off employees from some of its approximately 80 companies including the Utah Jazz. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed the cutbacks in a series of tweets, including a statement from the organization.

“Due to the impact on our customer-facing business from this unprecedented pandemic,” the phone typed note reads, “The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, of which the Utah Jazz are a part, unfortunately had to make difficult decisions to reduce a small percentage of our workforce. Over the past several weeks, we have worked to manage and reduce costs, including executive compensation, and have reached a point where we have had to say faraway to a limited number of our valued employees. We have connected our associates with outpaced services and aligned them with employers who have immediate hiring needs. We remain focused on helping our communities stay healthy.”

The layoffs for the company do not include basketball staff, while some employees have taken compensation reductions.

As part of cutbacks within approximately 80 companies within the Larry H. Miller Group, there are layoffs underway with the Utah Jazz, organizaton tells ESPN. Sources say those cutbacks are limited to non-basketball staff and some employees are taking compensation reductions.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 3, 2020

Employees within the organization were informed of the layoffs on Friday, nearly three and a half weeks since the NBA’s season was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Jazz center Rudy Gobert was the first NBA player to publically test positive for the virus, and it was soon discovered teammate Donovan Mitchell had also been infected the next morning.

Players from the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Lakers have also reportedly tested positive for the virus. All Jazz players have been cleared by the Utah Health Department since testing for the virus on March 11 in Oklahoma City.

Both Jazz players to test positive for the have recorded public service announcement for the state in an effort to get citizens to stay home to slow the spread of the virus.

Let’s get Utah back in the game and “Crush the Curve” @kalanifsitake @UtahCoachWhitt @RyanQualtrics . Show us your best video #TestUtahChallenge pic.twitter.com/Iamc7h0p9V

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) April 3, 2020

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing [email protected].
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at [email protected].