Delaware North Laying Off 517 Due To Effects Of Pandemic

WIVB-TV is reporting this morning that Delaware North is laying off a total of 517 people from its workforce due to the effects of COVID-19 with 139 of them from the Western New York area.

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Those familiar with the situation say the cuts are from the company’s headquarters, an Amherst Call Center, Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, Hamburg Gaming, Buffalo Bills Stadium, and Niagara Falls State Park.

The company sights the weakened economy and the company not recovering as quickly as hoped from coronavirus as a partial reason for the layoffs.

“Delaware North continues to make difficult decisions required to stabilize the company in the wake of the pandemic. These business conditions have forced us to close or greatly reduce our operations at our 218 hospitality business locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia over the last six months, and these conditions are likely to continue for the foreseeable future,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.

Delaware North says its ability to recall employees from furlough has been slow given delays in operating location openings and the reduced capacity but they pledge to continue to bring employees back from leave as they continue to hope that business conditions will improve.

Many area companies continue to struggle with slowing business resulting from the virus.  Some companies have also considered downsizing and decreasing building size or space as a result.