By KEZI-TV
FLORENCE — Three Rivers Casino is looking to meet the rising cost of living and attract potential employees by increasing its minimum wage to $14 an hour.
In May, the casino gave out cost-of-living raises to current employees and updated their policies for merit increases for employees, including those who earn tips. Casino staff said that the rising costs of gas, housing and food are hitting the coastal areas just as hard as the rest of the state.
Shelby Erickson, a human resources manager at Three Rivers Casino, said casino managers wanted their employees to be able to live nearby on the coast, and landed on the wage increases as a means to help achieve that goal.
“We are one of the bigger employers here in Florence. That being said, we want to stand out as well by giving back to our community, making sure people are paid accordingly, an affordable wage, able to afford to live their lives here on the coast,” Erickson said. “That’s where the minimum wage increase of $14 an hour came from, so that all of our team members can be paid what they deserve.”
Three Rivers Casino has increased its wages ahead of Oregon’s minimum wage increase, which is scheduled for July 1. The minimum wage will increase to $13.50 per hour in Lincoln, Benton, Lane and Linn Counties, to $14.75 per hour in the Portland area, and to $12.50 per hour in rural counties including Coos and Douglas.
Three Rivers Casino has more than 50 jobs available at the moment in the casino and golf course. These include food preparation and serving, table games dealers, accounting, human resources and facility maintenance.
