28 of 100 Laid-off Greenbrier Salaried Workers Rehired

The layoffs in January were needed to keep the hotel from suffering a $13 million deficit.

Twenty-eight of about 100 salaried employees laid off by The Greenbrier resort, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. have been called back to work, hotel owner Jim Justice told the Charleston Gazette.

Some of the positions have been combined or eliminated, said Justice adding that he did not know how many positions had been eliminated.

“We’re encouraging those people that have not been called back to apply for other positions, [at the resort],” Justice said. “We’re continuing to call people back as the business dictates that we can.”

In January, the resort laid off about 100 salaried employees and reduced hours for a number of hourly workers. Justice previously told the Gazette the layoffs were temporary and the majority of workers would be called back beginning the first of April. The layoffs were needed to keep the hotel from suffering a $13 million deficit, like it did last year during the winter, Justice has said.

Hotel President Jeff Kmiec said the resort has about 1,600 people on active payroll. During the peak of The Greenbrier’s season last year — typically between Memorial Day and Labor Day — the resort employed about 1,800 workers, Kmiec said.

Kmiec added that all regular employees who had benefits when they were laid off received the same benefits when they were called back recently.

All of the hotel’s hourly employees received a 5 percent raise as of April 1, Justice said.

“You still hate it for everybody that got laid off,” Justice said. “If one person is laid off and doesn’t have a job, that isn’t good. I want everybody to be back.”

Tags: Jim Justice Layoffs The Greenbrier