Company takes steps to offer additional aid in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With its first Hurricane
Katrina relief effort priority being the health and well-being of the nearly
8,000 members of the Harrah's family of employees living in the Biloxi,
Gulfport, and New Orleans areas, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET)
today launched the Harrah's Employee Relief Hotline.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021220/LAF055LOGO )
Harrah's is asking all displaced employees to call the toll-free number so
they can be accounted for, and so they can be directed to relief services.
The Harrah's Employee Relief Hotline number is 877-422-7466.
In other updates, Harrah's said that for the next 90 days it will:
* Cover health care premiums for hourly and non-management employees;
* Pay all medical claims as "in-network," regardless of where medical
coverage is received;
* Temporarily suspend pre-authorization requirement for medical care;
* Temporarily suspend time limits on access to scheduled prescriptions
drug deliveries and/or refills;
* Temporarily suspend time limits on vision care coverage, providing
affected employees with immediate access to eye exams to allow for the
replacement of eyeglasses and contact lenses;
* Give first preference for current employment opportunities at Harrah's
operations across the country to employees from the three affected
properties; and
* Use the Western Union network to wire emergency funds to those employees
unable to access their bank accounts. Harrah's will pay the cost of
these transactions.
Earlier this week, Harrah's announced the following efforts to help
employees:
* Harrah's will pay employees from the three affected properties their
base pay for up to 90 days;
* A Harrah's Employee Information Center is being established at the
Harrah's Entertainment Corporate Center in Memphis, Tenn. The center
will lead the effort to assist employees who have been evacuated and
displaced by Hurricane Katrina;
* Harrah's properties in Tunica, Lake Charles and Bossier City transformed
ballrooms, meeting space and other large areas into temporary relief
shelters to support displaced employees and their immediate families;
* Harrah's announced the establishment of the Harrah's Employee Recovery
Fund with an initial commitment of $1 million from the Harrah's
Foundation. In addition, Harrah's nearly 100,000 employees around the
country will be given an opportunity to directly assist their colleagues
affected by this tragedy through donations via payroll deductions; and
* The public can assist Harrah's employees by visiting the company's Web
site -- http://www.harrahs.com -- for additional information on how to
help.
As more definitive news and damage assessments become available, Harrah's
will take additional steps to bolster relief efforts for its employees, and
actively participate in the rebuilding of these vital communities. For more
information, please visit: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/harrahs/22667/.
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., is the world's largest provider of branded
casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 67 years ago,
Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and
acquisitions. On June 13, 2005, Harrah's Entertainment acquired Caesars
Entertainment, Inc., and now owns or manages through various subsidiaries more
than 40 casinos in three countries, primarily under the Harrah's, Caesars and
Horseshoe brand names. With nearly 4 million square feet of casino space, more
than 40,000 hotel rooms and nearly 100,000 employees, the Harrah's portfolio
is the most diverse in the gaming industry. Harrah's Entertainment is focused
on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination
of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational
excellence and technology leadership.
SOURCE Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.harrahs.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021220/LAF055LOGO
CONTACT:
Investors: Daniel Foley, +1-702-407-6370, or
Media: Alberto Lopez, +1-702-407-6344, both of Harrah's
Entertainment, Inc.
|
