Decisions in Paradise, Part II

Recently the company I work for decided to shut down a manufacturing facility in NY and move the manufacturing to Baltimore. Obviously the employees will not be transferring, however about half will be able to transfer to the other NY facility 20 minutes away. The facility was very profitable and had several large program being manufactured there, however the facility was rented, where the facility in Baltimore is owned and is the headquarters. I think the company tried to do the right thing for all of the employees involved. First, Management, including Management from the Baltimore, gathered the employees and made the announcement. During that announcement they did tell employees that about half of the employees will be laid off over the next 18 months. They also told employees that they will receive severance packages with 1 weeks pay for every year they were there, and they will continue to only have to pay their share of the benefits for 3 years. I think letting the employees know they will be taken care of and explaining the business decision behind it makes the blow a little easier, as least for logically thinking people. Since the announcement we have had a few issues with employees from that site making false accusations, and getting congress involved. You will never make everyone happy, but if the company is doing the right thing for the business, and trying to do right for the employees that is all they can do. I know sometimes it hard when facing the lost of employment, but I also agree that the company did let the employees know what was going to take place in the next 18 months. the decision making process in this case seem to have took their time to use different steps of decision making before finding a solution. 18 months and severance pay that great in this day and time. the reason I say this is because where I work some people were giving the chance to retire, resign, or take a different postiion bumping others messes. this is the type of decision making that causes hardship upon employees, not given any warning or chance to find another job. I don't think that this decision was in the best interest of the employees with people having families, house notes, car payments, and other needs to survive. that is the reason I believe that your job took in consideration the interest of the employees. 18 months you can better plan what decision to make about your next step.

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