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Sunday, January 4, 2009

Harrah's Rates Among Worst Employers

Glassdoor.com, a career and workplace community that posts real-time reviews, and salary details about specific jobs for specific employers basing their ratings from information coming from employees of these companies has rated Harrah's Entertainment among the country's worst employers. Harrah's CEO Gary Loveman received a 30% approval rating.
This is a major concern as Harrah's manages the casino for the tribe, and General Manager Darold Londo is a Harrah's employee. While Harrah's Cherokee Casino likely pales in comparison to the hostility of the work environment for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (I'd love to see what Principal Chief Michell Hicks' approval rating among employees and tribal members in general), the work environment has been growing increasingly hostile, and Londo is directly responsbile for that environment.
Let's start out for one particular VP position that came open. Londo passed up two highly qualified tribal member applicants for the position, basing his decision on their lack of expereience in all the areas for which they would supervise, and he hired a non Indian applicant, who had similarly lacking qualifications. I've seen first hand his "employee engagement," which consisted of family events whereby he and his wife would separate themselves from the employees at these events.
Let's also not forget the undercover downsizing that happening despite the fact that the casino is still profitable, and of course we've not heard one word from Londo about what Harrah's is doing to honor its contractual obligations to get tribal members ready to run that property.
The casino business is a demanding one, which often requires sacrifices of personal time and time with family. Add the hostility that's existed unabaded and even created by Londo, and the casino stands to lose some of its most valuable employees. People tend not to want to work in places where they clearly aren't appreciated.
The Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise seems unwilling to address the workplace environment issues. Neither Tribal Council nor Chief Hicks seemed concerned, and why should they be? These two entities have been ignoring workplace hostility for tribal employees for decades. The tribe prohibits unions through an ordinance passed a few years ago, and that violation of the tribal and casino employees' civil rights has been hailed as one of Council's greatest accomplishments. It's just the kind of situation that would allow an employer with low employee satisfaction to flourish. As for Michell Hicks, as long as he can stand naked before the mirror and admire his new suit, that's all that matters. I wouldn't expect our current leadership to do anything.
While it may not yet be time for the tribe to take over management of the facility, it is time to shop around for another management company, possibly one that may actually value its employees and honor its contractual obligations.

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