National Football League

Bucs closing offices for Memorial Day week

Published May. 26, 2011 8:10 p.m. ET

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers say their offices will be closed next week and that team employees could face additional unpaid furloughs if the NFL labor stoppage extends into the fall and winter.

The Bucs announced the move in a brief statement posted Thursday on the club's web site, noting that employees will be fully reimbursed for lost wages for Memorial Day week if the labor dispute between owners and players is ''resolved without the loss of any regular-season games.''

''The Buccaneers remain hopeful that the 2011 season will be played without interruption; presuming this occurs, the plan will essentially provide the team's entire staff with an extra week of paid vacation,'' club spokesman Jonathan Grella said. ''And more importantly, this plan preserves jobs and does not ask employees to work for less or no pay.''

Additional office closings could be implemented if the owners-imposed lockout continues to Labor Day and beyond.

Employees were notified of the plans for unpaid furloughs in March, giving them an ooprtunity to plan vacations in advance.

Team offices will reopen on June 6.