Fired MGM Resorts Workers File Lawsuits over Vaccination Requirement

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic several years ago disrupted businesses across the globe. The impact of traveling restrictions and reduced capacities for indoor venues affected the gaming and hospitality industry and even the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas, was impacted.

In 2021, when a vaccine was approved, MGM Resorts International was the first major casino and hospitality operator that made it mandatory for its employees to be vaccinated. At the time, the company set a deadline for the vaccination of all non-hourly employees by October 15, 2021.

However, while most of the workers complied with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a small number objected citing religious reasons. Regretfully, MGM Resorts fired those employees as they failed to comply with its vaccine mandate.

Now, there are several lawsuits filed by such employees who claim they were wrongfully terminated by the leading gaming and hospitality company. A report released by the Las Vegas Review-Journal suggests that between December 2022 and July 2024, there have been six independent complaints over the issue filed with the US District Court of Nevada.

Out of the six lawsuits, so far, three have been consolidated into one claim. Two cases claiming wrongful termination were most recently filed by MGM Resorts employees on July 10. Now, a federal judge will determine whether to consolidate the recently filed lawsuits together with the other filing.

Lawsuits Claim Breaches of State, Federal Laws

In the lawsuits, the former employees claim they were wrongfully terminated after refusing to comply with the COVID-19 mandate due to religious reasons. They claim that prior to their dismissal, they sought exemption from MGM’s vaccine mandate for religious reasons.

Besides submitting an initial request for religious exemption, the former employees claimed they submitted responses as a part of a questionnaire with MGM Resorts. Despite those efforts, their contracts were still terminated since non-compliance did not permit them to go to work which resulted in dismissal.

The list of affected workers includes employees who held a range of roles, from casino floor and marketing management to food and beverage roles. The workers were not new hires as some spent seven years with MGM while others were employed for 28 years.

Jennings & Fulton, a leading Las Vegas-based law firm represents all six former workers. Ultimately, the dismissed employees claim MGM breached both state and federal laws related to discrimination.