Hurricanes clarify email to full-time employees about pay
Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell on Wednesday clarified an email he sent to full-time employees about their pay during an NHL season suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The email Wednesday indicated that non-contracted employees were being required to immediately use accrued vacation time or personal time off (PTO) beginning next week. The email said, “Employees that have used all of their vacation and personal time will be off without pay.”
Waddell, in an interview Wednesday, said, “Everyone will get paid and we’ll figure it out after that.” He said the directive applied only to next week and that the team policy would be reviewed on a week-to-week basis, adding that the employees’ benefits would not be affected.
Waddell said six of 176 full-time employees were without vacation time, saying, “They will get paid their full salary.” Contracted employees such as senior management, coaches and scouts are not affected.
Waddell said the full impact of the economic stimulus package being debated in Congress still is an unknown factor.
“The reason why we’re going week by week is because there’s a stimulus plan and no one has seen the final version of it yet,” Waddell said . “We’re trying to figure out what benefits there are, for employees and employers.”
The News & Observer received copies of the email sent to employees. Team owner Tom Dundon contacted Wednesday, referred all questions to Waddell.
“Tom’s goal through this whole process has been not to harm anyone or lay anyone off,” Waddell said in the interview.
The Hurricanes on March 17 announced they would cover the lost wages of their PNC Arena staff and part-time events staff for the seven final home games of the regular-season.
Waddell’s email to employees said the Hurricanes had decided to “close all components of our business next week and require employees to take PTO (vacation first, then personal days off). Sick time cannot be used. Employees that have used all of their vacation and personal time will be off without pay. All employees must enter their vacation or personal time off request into the time off system. If a request is not entered, vacation or personal time will not be paid. If an employee has remaining vacation or personal time it must be used.”
The email noted that those with lost wages might be able to apply for benefits under COVID-19 relief laws.
The email said: “We have been exploring multiple options on how best to take care of our employees while being mindful of the business challenges we face. This extra week gives us the time to understand the new legislation as well as time to make the best decisions on how to proceed as an organization.
The Hurricanes directive came a day after the NHL general managers held a conference call to discuss the effects of the pandemic and the financial impact it could have, both in completing the 2019-20 season — suspended since March 12 — or the start of the 2020-21 season.
The Boston Bruins’ parent company, Delaware North, on Wednesday announced that 68 salaried full-time employees would be placed on temporary leave, receiving one week of paid leave and eight weeks of full benefits. It said 82 of the full-time salaried employees would receive an “indefinite salary reduction.”
Waddell, in his email, said Dundon “has been very supportive of trying to keep everyone paid and working as much as possible.” He also noted the Canes, like all other NHL teams, are in “uncharted waters.”
“We have been exploring multiple options on how best to take care of our employees while being mindful of the business challenges we face,” Waddell said in the email.
The Hurricanes said Monday that they were temporarily closing the team offices at PNC Arena on Tuesday. They said hockey and business operations would continue, with employees working remotely.
— Luke DeCock contributed to this report
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 6:04 PM.
