Vol. 4, No. 2, February 2007
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Some Sense About Smoking
Protecting your jobs and your health
As I am sure you are all aware, Atlantic City’s City Council has proposed an ordinance to ban smoking in all indoor workplaces, including casino floors, which would cancel out the exemption in the state smoking ban. This article will speak to that issue and related concerns.
Before speaking specifically about CANJ’s position on the smoking ban, we want to express our sincere concern with the difference of opinion that exists between CANJ and some of our employees who believe that the ban is desirable. While we certainly have no issue with these employees having a point of view that is different from CANJ’s viewpoint, we are very concerned with the sentiment that has been expressed by some that we do not care about the welfare of our employees.
This is simply not the case. In fact, one of the reasons that we have taken the position that we have is that the ultimate benefit we provide to our employees is continuing employment. As we have said, we are very concerned that if an absolute smoking ban is imposed, business volumes will drop appreciably and that will lead to layoffs, not to mention a possible stagnation of job creation through expansion projects and new developments.
For this reason we look forward to working with City Council to forge a plan that brings balance to the different interests at stake, including the health concerns created by a smoking environment, the potential economic ramifications of an outright ban, including the significant layoffs that would likely occur and impacts on future investment in the city, and a way to address the concerns and desires of the millions of customers who visit Atlantic City every year and create the economic engine upon which all of us rely.
We truly value our employees and we recognize the integral role that they play in our industry. Superior customer service is one of the critical elements in fulfilling the wants and desires of our customers, who are the lifeblood of our businesses. This is, of course, easier said than done, as it takes among other things a combination of hard work, seamless teamwork, and a belief in the concept of a quality entertainment experience.
Recognizing the importance of the role that our employees play in delivering the experiences that are critical to maintaining our existing customers and enticing new customers, we strive to provide our employees an environment in which they can thrive.
This includes significant health and welfare components that are a part of the overall benefits package provided to our employees. Included in this package is a comprehensive health insurance benefits plan that is made available to our employees, which permits our employees and their families the ability to obtain wellness and medical services as needed.
Our companies also provide the opportunity for our employees to save for their retirement through 401K plans that include a level of employer matching funds. Each casino also provides free hot, nutritious and delicious meals to all of our employees during their shifts via each casino’s employee cafeteria. Other health and welfare benefits that casinos provide to their employees include health risk assessments such as on-site blood pressure checks, mammograms and flu shots.
We also offer employee assistance programs designed to help our employees balance the stresses that might arise from personal issues in their home and work life. There are also many other such benefits offered that are too numerous to list given space constraints.
All of these benefits flow from the biggest benefit that our industry provides its employees—continued employment. And as we have pointed out, the continued employment of a significant portion of our employees is jeopardized by the imposition of a complete smoking ban.
Smokers are a significant component of our market and will likely flock to casinos in nearby jurisdictions that do not have smoking bans, causing layoffs due to the decrease in business volume. The ban will also directly threaten current growth opportunities and development projects on the table that require a stable and predictable economic climate to attract stakeholders in the realization of Atlantic City’s true potential.
Given these serious consequences, CANJ believes that we can accommodate the concerns of City Council, state policy-makers, union leaders, employees and other interested parties and arrive at a policy of mutual acceptance. This would include exploring the capabilities of air ventilation systems, responsive floor infrastructure changes, and other ideas that would address the health concerns of the proponents of a casino smoking ban but that would not put our casino industry’s continued economic success at risk.
Ultimately, it is incumbent on all parties to find a rational solution to promote to City Council that recognizes the various interests at stake, with a focus on preserving the business and a healthy environment for all our employees—a win/win for all constituencies.
Note: At press time, the Atlantic City Council had yet to hear the smoking ordinance on January 24. With any luck we will have reached an understanding concerning our shared vision for the future of Atlantic City and its gaming operations.
