The Venetian Resort and Las Vegas Sands Respond to the COVID-19 Community Crisis
COMMUNITY RELATED
MASK DONATIONS – Las Vegas Sands and The Venetian Resort donated 5,000 N95 masks to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, to aid in the agency’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, in response to a nationwide shortage of supplies for healthcare workers, 100,000 surgical masks were donated throughout the Las Vegas valley to medical facilities and other places in need.
COMMUNITY DONATION – To help jumpstart the relief efforts of its community partners, Las Vegas Sands announced it is donating a total of $250,000 to several important local organizations to serve our community during this time of need. Those organizations include Three Square food bank, Communities In Schools and Share Village Las Vegas. These donations were made as “unrestricted funds,” allowing each organization to utilize the money to cover immediate and critical needs. In addition, the company plans to bolster that financial support with donations of meals and needed equipment.
FOOD DONATIONS – The Venetian Resort has donated 60 pallets of food to Three Square food bank. The food donation, which consists of fresh produce, proteins and other food items, filled more than 2 semi-trucks and will soon be in the hands of community agencies throughout the city. As part of their emergency plan, Three Square is partnering with community agencies to operate 43 emergency distribution sites to ensure food-insecure individuals throughout Southern Nevada still have access to food during these uncertain times.
WATER DONATIONS – More than 55,000 bottles of water and 150 cases of dry food have been donated to the following organizations:
- The Salvation Army
- Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
- U.S. Vets
- Family Promise of Las Vegas
- WestCare NV
- St. Jude’s Ranch
- HopeLink of Southern Nevada
- The Shade Tree
- Lutheran Social Services
- SafeNest
- HELP of Southern Nevada
- SHARE Village Las Vegas
CLEAN THE WORLD – The Venetian Resort is one of the largest Las Vegas donors of soap to Clean the World, donating an average of 24,000 pounds of soap and bathroom amenities annually. As both the CDC and WHO have adamantly expressed, handwashing with soap and water is one of the most important ways of staying healthy. Clean the World is in regular contact with the CDC and United Nations agencies, as well as their global WASH program and partnership network, to ensure we’re ahead of the latest developments and needs. As hygiene supplies are limited in many stores, those without access to hygiene supplies need this support now more than ever. Clean the World has committed to being on the front lines to fight against the spread of this virus and has increased production to recycle and distribute as much soap as possible to those in need, domestically and globally to help stem the spread of COVID-19 for our most vulnerable populations. Last fall, Las Vegas Sands sponsored its annual global disaster relief kit build event, during which a total of 35,000 hygiene kits were created locally and distributed to Las Vegas charities.
TEAM MEMBER RESOURCE – Time and time again, Team Members of The Venetian Resort have come together to support one another and our community. In response to those who have asked how they can help their neighbors in need during this difficult time, the Sands Cares team has shared a list of community organizations that are seeking donations and volunteers.
EMPLOYMENT-RELATED PROGRAMS
Las Vegas Sands employs approximately 9,300 Team Members who work throughout The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, including The Venetian, The Palazzo, Venezia towers and the corporate offices in the U.S. To date, the company has announced the following:
- No layoffs or furloughs are being contemplated.
- ALL LAS VEGAS SANDS TEAM MEMBERS WLL BE PAID DURING STATE-MANDATED 30-DAY CLOSURE.
- The current resort closure will not impact health care eligibility. There will be no changes to existing healthcare benefit plans. In the event that work hours are reduced, benefit eligibility will not be affected by any reduction.
- All full time and full time flex, and hourly Team Members will be paid a minimum of 32 hours a week, whether working on the schedule, working from home or are just not scheduled and confined to home.
- All On-Call Hourly Team Members will be paid based on the average hours worked in February 2020 up to a maximum of 32 hours per week. This will apply even when not scheduled to work at all while resort is closed.
- The company recognizes that many hourly Team Members rely on tips, and has calculated an hourly rate to compensate these employees for some of their lost tip income.
- Salaried individuals will continue to be paid as normal.
- No Team Members will be required to take unpaid time off.
- Team Members can use previously accrued flex (vacation) time on a “use 2 get 1 free” basis.
- For essential Team Members including who are working through this closure, box lunches will be provided. In addition, these Team Members will receive bonus accrued flex time for future time off. These areas include: security, HVAC, fire command, central plant, life safety and others.
OTHER INITIATIVES
SIGN TRIBUTE — As the world continues to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the 9,300 team members of The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Las Vegas Sands stand in support of the people of Italy, who have suffered unthinkable loss. We know that there have now been more deaths in Italy than in China where the virus originated.
The Venetian Resort was inspired by the spirit of Italy and her people. This spirit endures even through the current crisis, as Italians are sharing a message of hope with a slogan of reassurance: “Andrà tutto bene” – or “everything will be all right.”
In a show of solidarity, the building signs of both The Venetian and The Palazzo towers were changed, with The Venetian displaying the green, white and red colors of the flag of Italy, and The Palazzo displaying the red, white and blue colors of the flag of the United States of America.