ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY)- Evangeline Downs owner, Boyd Gaming Corporation, has released a statement on employee layoffs.

“While we have been able to reopen Evangeline Downs, we continue to operate under significant restrictions.  In addition, it is very difficult to predict how long it will take for our business to recover to normal levels,” David Strow, vice president of corporate communications for Boyd Gaming Corporation.

His statement on the company’s behalf continues:

While we are trying to be as transparent as possible with our team members, we cannot determine at this time exactly how many team members will be recalled to work, and how many will need to be laid off.  As a result, in accordance with applicable laws, we provided notice to a portion of our workforce of the possibility for layoffs.

The number cited in the letter refers to the total number of team members who received that notice.  We have made no final decisions regarding the number of layoffs that will be necessary.

While we deal with this uncertainty, we empathize with our furloughed team members and understand the difficulties they face.  Accordingly, we notified furloughed team members that we will continue paying 100% of their benefit premiums through July 31.

As the situation continues to evolve and we learn more, we will continue to provide updates to our team members.”

ORIGINAL: Boyd Gaming has warned the Louisiana Department of Workforce Development in a workers adjustment and retraining notification, or WARN, that is considering laying off employees at the Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, effective July 1.

“Like many businesses across the country and in our industry, Boyd Gaming has been significantly affected by COVID-19 and the mandatory closures of all of our properties since mid-March,” Vice President Corporate Human Resources Chris Smith wrote in the letter to the state.

Boyd Gaming is also laying off workers at its casino’s in Shreveport, Kenner, Vinton and Amelia.

“Because of mandatory closures, guest limitations imposed by various regulatory authorities, and overall economic conditions due to the pandemic, Boyd Gaming anticipates that it will conduct permanent layoffs that may impact between 25% and 60% of team members at the Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino. For some team members who are not laid off, we now reasonably expect the current furlough may last longer than six months from the date it began.”