Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is cutting 100 jobs because of the national economic downturn.

The cuts represent about 5 percent of the casino’s approximately 1,800 employees. Harrah’s hopes to achieve the workforce reduction voluntarily, with the offer of a severance package spurring people to step up. But it will force layoffs if enough volunteers don’t materialize.

Darold Londo, general manager of the casino, said the softening economy with no apparent turnaround in sight has forced the casino’s hand.

“We continue to see fewer customers as they, like all consumers, are being prudent and cautious with their discretionary incomes,” Londo said. The casino’s gaming revenue has declined 4.4 percent over the past year.

This is the first time Harrah’s Cherokee has had to lay off employees in its 11-year history, Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Chairwoman Norma Moss noted. Moss said the employees are being offered a “fair and lucrative” severance package.

Employees were notified of the cuts Monday and told to come forward by Jan. 19 if they want to be part of the voluntary layoffs. The casino hopes the cuts will be made by the end of the month.

All of the casino’s profits are given to the Cherokee government. For the first time since the casino opened, that amount has gone down. In the 2007 fiscal year ending in September, $253 million was given to the tribe, compared to only $244 million for 2008, Moss said. Moss said the casino is trying to manage its operating costs to minimize the impact on the money distributed to the tribe.

Half of the profits go for tribal programs and the other half is distributed to the tribe’s approximately 13,500 members in the form of “per-capita” checks twice a year.

A $633 million expansion under way at the casino will not be impacted by the economic problems, Moss said.

“It will continue,” Moss said.

The expansion includes doubling the restaurants, hotel rooms, seating in the showroom and the gaming space, Moss said. The expansion will continue because the casino secured good financing and construction costs are affordable because of the lack of other construction work, Moss said.

Moss said the casino is excited about the expansion because when the economy rebounds Harrah’s Cherokee will be ahead of the competition.

Londo said as the economy improves he hopes that many employees can be rehired, and as phases of the expansion are completed additional employees will be needed.

The national economic downturn is taking its toll on married couples dealing with financial stress, according to area marriage counselors.

Dr. Helen Andrews of Waynesville said the poor economy seems to be the primary issue on her clients’ minds.

Money is always a factor in relationships, she said, adding that couples often complain about each other’s spending.

“They’re having to cut back on so many things,” she said.

Money does not cause problems — the problems were already there, Andrews said. A lack of money can magnify existing problems, she said.

“If you haven’t got enough to make ongoing expenses, you’re likely to be frustrated,” she said. “Everything looks bigger.”

Worrying about money can cause couples to be more upset about everything else, she said. Couples having money problems should learn to communicate better.

“The work is to have them talk and listen to each other,” Andrews said.

When economic times are good couples can escape by going shopping, going out to eat or doing something else that is fun.

When there is not money, all there is to do is sit at the house, she said.

Couples need to be better partners and work together rather than blame each other, but many couples have not developed a skill base to work together, she said.

Victor Hamilton, owner of Sylva Christian Counseling, said children’s behavior may worsen when the parents are having financial problems.

Dr. Mary Ellen Griffin, a licensed clinical psychologist in Sylva, said children are aware of their parents’ emotional state and when the parents are worried, the children are, too.

Couples often argue over how money should be spent and what gets higher priority, Hamilton said.

During hard economic times a man supporting a stay-at-home mom may have to take on a second job, which means more time away from home, and that can cause other problems, he said.

And when there is anxiety about money, feelings are more sensitive and emotions can take over, he said.

Anxiety over money can often come out as anger and frustration, he said.

“That’s what therapy is all about — looking under the obvious presenting behavior and seeing what motivates their fear and anxiety,” he said.

Hamilton recommends couples engage in stress reduction techniques to release tension in the body. He said being aware of “proper breathing” is important.

Also, he said, a “spiritual dimension is a crucial element.”

“The times are causing people to return to their roots of spiritual beliefs,” he said.

Divorces probably are not on the rise, he said. Instead, there may be fewer divorces because couples are so focused on making ends meet that they are not thinking about separation. Moreover, divorces can be expensive.

There were 100 divorces in Jackson County in 2008, according to the County Clerk’s Office.

Monty Beck, a Franklin attorney specializing in divorce, said he hasn’t seen an increase in the number of people seeking divorces, but the recession has made it more difficult when it comes to dividing assets.

A couple’s most significant asset is often its home, but now homes are not selling, so the equity can’t be divided.

During economic hard times couples may think twice about getting divorced because of the cost, said Beck, who is a board certified specialist in family law

And when couples separate, that means two households must be maintained when there used to be only one, he noted. The cost of a divorce depends on what issues are involved such as custody, alimony and property, Beck said.

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