Hi-

Las Vegas craps dealer here. Just found your website, and it's very interesting. I checked the "issues" page and, well...

This may come under the heading of "job security", but I think it deserves at least a subheading. Many casinos here in Vegas have what I like to call a "probationary release" program. Basically, a dealer is hired then when within a week or so of the end of the 90-day probationary period, is informed that he/she is "not meeting the standards of service" and let go. 

This is done in order to avoid paying insurance benefits. Many dealers are, in fact, retained beyond the probationary period; it would be impossible to keep the casinos fully staffed if everyone was let go. It does seem, though, that many casinos have an extremely high rate of turnover of probationary employees, too high to be accounted for by poor dealing skills or bad customer service. 

Also, if a dealer is turning out to be a "problem employee", this would most likely become apparent well before the 80th day of employment, and certainly before the 89th day, which is the most common point of "release". I understand that the Mandalay Resorts/Circus Circus properties are notorious for this practice, and the Flamingo Hilton and Imperial Palace also are getting a reputation..

I personally was the victim of the "probationary release" program at a Strip casino. I was about a week away from completing my probationary period when I was informed that I was "not meeting the standards of service" and let go. I have talked to several people who have experience in casino management who have told me that if I got past 80 days before I was let go, the reason was most likely to get me out the door before I became eligible for benefits.

If there had been a problem with my job performance or customer service, they wouldn't have kept me as long as they did. The casino I worked at does seem to have an extremely high rate of turnover of dealers who are within a week of making probation.

I have been surfing around your website and so far haven't found any articles or letters covering this issue of casinos letting dealers go just prior to the end of probation in order to avoid giving benefits. Maybe I haven't looked around enough. But I think this is an issue that needs to be brought out into the open. I understand that there are no labor laws that protect probationary employees. 

Am I correct in this? Also, are there any labor laws that would apply to employers that have an extremely high rate of releasing probationary employees within a week of the end of probation, long past the time when any problems should have been identified and dealt with?

Since I don't wish to endanger my future employment prospects by attaching my name to a public airing of this issue, I remain-

Anonymous

Our response....

Dear Anonymous:

You ask if employees have any protection or recourse for the "dump-at-the-end-of- probation" syndrome, a debilitating disease strangely peculiar to the unorganized dealers of Las Vegas......and I answer with an emphatic---NO, THEY DO NOT!

You also asked if there is any oversight of employers who practice this heartless policy. Again, let me say sadly no. Unfortunately, the powers that be in this state are only concerned with keeping their cash cows happy and in working order, and have absolutely no interest whatsoever in whether or not dealers are fired on their 89th day. 

I say that every time they fire any one of us on the 89th day, it hurts us all!

Jack Lipsman
NFGE

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