Just for perspective here,

1000 * $15/hr = $15,000 / hr

$96,000,000 / $15,000  / hour = 6,400 hours

6,400 hours / 40 hours / week = 160 weeks

160 weeks / 52.17857 weeks / year = 3.0663929655412174 years

They could afford to keep those employees on for another 3 Years with that amount.