September 1: Recovery Starts Here

Help our Gulf Coast employees affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The Harrah's Foundation has donated $1 million to help our employees. If you would like to contribute to the Gulf Coast recovery effort, make your check payable to "The Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund." All donations, including $1 million from the Harrah's Foundation, will go immediately to help our fellow employees and their families recover from the hurricane.

Let's give them a hand, so they can get back on their feet. Bring your checks to your property's Human Resources office.




Date: September 2, 2005
To: All Harrah's Entertainment Employees
From: Jerry Boone - Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and Nizar Jabara - Vice President of Compensation, Benefits & HRSS
Subject: Benefits Relief for New Orleans, Biloxi and Gulfport Employees

In response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the first priority of Harrah's Entertainment is the safety and well-being of our nearly 8,000 employees in the Gulf region. In addition to the numerous relief and recovery efforts that the company has initiated, employees of Grand Casino Biloxi, Grand Casino Gulfport, Harrah's New Orleans and the Mid-South Service Center will continue to receive their base pay for 90 days, and will continue to be covered for enrolled benefits including health care and 401(k) plans.

For the same 90-day period, a number of benefits requirements are being eased to help our employees in the affected regions deal with the emergency:

For enrolled hourly and non-management employees, health care premiums will be paid by the company.
Payroll deductions for 401(k) loan payments have been suspended. Automatic contributions will continue and will be matched at the customary rate.
Preauthorization requirements for medical care are suspended.
Medical claims will be paid in-network, regardless of where care is received or whether or not the provider is part of the network.
Prescription drugs can be replaced before they are scheduled for a refill at no cost to the employee.
Time and frequency limits are removed for eye exams, eyeglasses and contacts.
Any 401(k) loan or withdrawal request will receive priority processing.