Ducks Devils Hockey
NEW YORK (77 WABC) — The current outbreak of Coronavirus was going to impact the wallets of employees of the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers, but that has changed.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), which owns both the 76ers and Devils, reversed course Tuesday on a plan that would have seen at-will employees who make $50, 000 or more experience a 20% reduction in pay and see their workweeks cut to four days. Those employees will continue to receive their full salaries while the NHL and NBA seasons are suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The NBA suspended its season on March 11 after a player tested positive for the Coronavirus and the NHL postponed its season the following day.
“Our commitment has been to do our best to keep all of our employees working through this very difficult situation,” HBSE owner and founder Josh Harris said in a statement. “As part of an effort to do that we asked salaried employees to take a temporary 20% pay cut while preserving everyone’s full benefits — and keeping our 1500 hourly workers paid throughout the regular season. After listening to our staff and players, it’s clear that was the wrong decision.”
“We have reversed it and will be paying these employees their full salaries. This is an extraordinary time in our world – unlike any most of us have ever lived through before – and ordinary business decisions are not enough to meet the moment. To our staff and fans, I apologize for getting this wrong.”
The cuts were to begin on April 15.
