Hard Rock International Announces $100 Million Pay Raise

Hard Rock International announced wage increases for half of its North American workforce. In recent months, labor shortages and industrial action have affected the casino and hospitality industries around the world, perhaps most notably in Atlantic City.

In this scenario, the company is planning a major salary increase that totals $100 million. The wage increases will affect 95 job categories, including cooks, janitors and security guards, among other roles.

Employees at the company’s hotels, casinos and cafes in the United States are expected to receive new starting wages of between $18 and $21 an hour. The lower sum is more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and is $3 higher than the highest US minimum wage.

Meanwhile, in Florida State, a Hard Rock starting crew member will receive at least $8 more per hour than the current Sunshine State minimum wage of $10 per hour.

“My career spans over four decades and I have never been involved in such a historic event,” said Jim Allen, President of Hard Rock International, CEO of Seminole Gaming.

“The support the Seminole Tribe of Florida has given me in improving the standard of living for so many people is a dream come true. We are changing people’s lives and I am proud to be a part of that,” Allen added.

Hard Rock’s nationwide pay raise is apparently part of an “ongoing effort to honor and appreciate its workforce.” This included paying bonuses to frontline workers during the pandemic, along with other expanded benefits.

However, the company was rocked by the threat of strikes in Atlantic City earlier this year. Hard Rock, along with several other properties, faced a strike in July, but a last-minute deal saved the casino from an even bigger problem.