BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Pegula Sports & Entertainment announced organizational changes as the Buffalo Sabres scheduled regular season came to an end last week.
PSE says there will be executive salary reductions, 21 layoffs and 104 furloughs among its employees across all of its portfolio companies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"There is no way to adequately express how difficult these decisions were for Terry and me. It is not something we took lightly, and we are fully aware of the hardships that exist across our community and country right now,” said President and CEO Kim Pegula. “We feel for all the employees and families who will be affected, and we hope that we can all return to full strength in the coming weeks and months.”
The furloughs begin April 15 and PSE will continue to pay the health insurance for those employees. PSE says they cannot perform their jobs due to COVID-19, but are expected to reassume their jobs following the furlough.
PSE also says more than three dozen employees across numerous PSE entities and hockey executives will take temporary tiered percentage pay cuts. This includes management, hockey staff, broadcasters, and contracted employees.
Chris Bandura, the long-time vice president of communications, is among those who have been laid off from PSE.
The temporary tiered pay cuts are being put in place to help spread resources within the organization, according to PSE.
Salaried workers paid at lower levels will not receive a reduction. The Buffalo Bills continue to operate at normal levels with no current change to the start of the NFL season.
PSE says they will continue to closely monitor the situation.
