ONEIDA NATION HOMELANDS - The Oneida Indian Nation awarded $5.1 million in bonuses this week to approximately 90% of its 4,800 employees.  Despite the yearlong downturn in the U.S. economy and significant failures in the gaming industry, the Nation’s enterprises, including Turning Stone Resort Casino, performed exceedingly well and was one of the few entities to exceed 2008 economic performance.  This year’s bonuses topped last year by about $400,000.  These incentive checks are a way for the Oneida Nation to reward employees who went above and beyond what was expected of them. 

Awarded just before Thanksgiving, the bonus money will help jumpstart the holiday shopping season in Central New York and beyond by injecting several million dollars into the local retail economy.  The Nation is the largest employer in Oneida and Madison counties and one of the top five employers in the 16 counties of greater Central New York.