Hurricanes to ‘make whole’ salaries of full-time employees during coronavirus crisis
The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Friday their plan to “make whole” their salaries of their full-time employees during the NHL suspension in play during the coronavirus crisis.
The NHL indefinitely suspended the season March 12, leaving its teams with the decision of how to best handle paying their employees during the stoppage. The Canes on March 23 shut down its hockey operations and PNC Arena in accordance with the restrictions set by Wake County and Gov. Roy Cooper and the call for social distancing.
Saying the team had conducted an “exploration of the marketplace and governmental opportunities” the Canes said the team would take the following steps:
— Approximately 55 percent of all full-time staff employees will be placed on furlough through June 7, and given the opportunity to take advantage of the government’s stimulus package
— Employees placed on furlough who are not eligible to collect 100% of their full base salaries through unemployment insurance will be given a bonus by the organization upon the conclusion of the furlough period to be made whole.
— Furloughed employees will continue to receive healthcare benefits during the furlough period, and the company will assist employees by making their premium payments.
“The organization remains committed to taking care of our staff as well as possible given these unprecedented circumstances,” Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. “We’ve created a solution that protects our employees from financial hardship, while also mitigating the losses suffered by the company during this shutdown.”
Another Triangle professional sports owner, Steve Malik, announced Friday that North Carolina Football Club would have no terminated employees or anyone losing their health benefits.
“In these unprecedented times, like many other sports clubs, North Carolina Football Club is making thoughtful, strategic decisions to ensure that we will be ready to compete and fulfill our role as a community rallying point,” Malik said in a statement. “While no employees have been terminated nor lost health benefits, we are seeking to utilize resources made available by the government to support those financially affected by this crisis. As we continue to know more about when our teams, North Carolina Courage and North Carolina FC, can return to the field, our players, coaches and core staff remain full-time and fully compensated, ready to start the season.”
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 2:49 PM.
