Early present for Oneida Nation workers

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WKTV News

Story Created: Nov 27, 2009 at 6:52 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 27, 2009 at 7:30 PM EST

VERONA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Oneida Nation handed out more than $5 million in holiday bonuses to employees last week.  That's $400,000 more than last year.
   
Hard-working folks at Turning Stone won't have to gamble for a chance to win some extra Christmas cash.  This holiday season game dealers, food service workers; 90% of Oneida Nation employees in all, walked away with big holiday bonuses.  2008 brought in big profits for the casino, and the Oneida Nation says they want to reward people who went above and beyond in their work. 
    
"It was really important for us to pay the bonus," says Dana Sovocool, Vice President of Human Resources for the Oneida Nation.
    
Sovocool says the average bonus was about $300 to $400 per person.  The nation says they hope their employees will spend the money locally.

"We were very surprised to get them," says Kimberly Humphrey.
    
Humphrey has been a games dealer at the casino for over 10 years.  She says her normal holiday bonus is about $300 but this year it was closer to $800. 
    
The Oneida Nation says they hope luck will stay on their side, so they can pass out bigger bonuses in the new year.

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