New Casino Hiring Policy Has Term Limits

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Atlantic City's newest casino will open later this year. It will bring in thousands of new jobs as well as a new philosophy in casino employment.

FOX's Anna Kooiman reported that when the Revel mega-casino opens in May, it will be bringing 5,000 jobs to Atlantic City, and with that, an unprecedented policy that critics say values young fresh faces over a proven track record of hard work and loyalty.

From cocktail waitresses to bellhops to food servers, employees will be hired for terms of four to six years. After that, they have to reapply for their jobs.

Opponents say it's age discrimination and argue employees won't be able to plan out their lives when trying to buy a house or a car for example.

Bob McDevitt, president of local 54, said, "This is all about using people like they use tablecloths or forks – they have a life, and then they get rid of them, and they get something new. And I think that that fundamentally is wrong morally. And it also goes against the Casino Act, which clearly states good jobs with benefits for tourism workers."

Revel Casino defended their policy with this statement: "We feel Revel will attract the most highly professional people who are inspired by a highly competitive work environment. Revel will be an attractive and competitive professional option here both in opportunity and compensation."

Some hospitality experts agree.

Brian Tyrrell, a professor, hospitality and tourism, said, "I think the knowledge that you are going to be reevaluated every few years or so would indeed keep somebody on their toes and, you know, make sure that they don't get complacent in the position and they continue delivering high quality guest service to the customer."

Unions want to see Revel's "re-apply policy" revoked, and some employees at other casinos are concerned they could be affected if it becomes an industry-wide business practice.