Danbury Hotel To Furlough Employees

DANBURY, CT — The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Danbury has notified the Connecticut Board of Labor and Employment it will be furloughing 56 employees.

In a letter to the Board's Rapid Response Unit dated March 23, Pyramid Danbury Management, part of the Pyramid Hotel Group which operates the Crowne Plaza, said it expected the furlough to be temporary. The furlough began on March 19, and the employees are expected to return to work on May 18, according to the letter.

The employees affected included bartenders, banquet servers, salespeople, and others.

A "furlough" does not have a precise legal definition, and is sometimes referred to as a "temporary layoff." Generally the employee is technically still on the payroll, and often still receives benefits. They are a common tactic used by companies navigating a significant economic downturn.

The letter says that notice was given to the employees "as soon as possible given the unforeseen circumstances of a loss in business due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic."