Hufcor offers layoff rotation plan
Layoff numbers
Business: Hufcor, 2101 Kennedy Road, Janesville.
Employees being laid off: Between 20 and 60 for three two-week, rotating periods.
Employees remaining: Between 260 and 306.
Company description: Makes operable wall systems.
JANESVILLE — In an effort to further weather an economic slowdown, Hufcor will rotate employees into a voluntary layoff program.
Employees who sign up will be laid off for two weeks as part of a program that is expected to run for six weeks, said Pat Whitmore, Hufcor's vice president of human resources.
The first two weeks of the program are expected to involve 20 employees, Whitmore said, adding that 40 more will be added for the third and fourth and fifth and six weeks.
"At this point, it's all voluntary," she said.
Earlier this month, the Janesville-based manufacturer of operable wall systems laid off 54 members of its 380-employee workforce.
The company is caught in a global and domestic construction market that's softened considerably, with several projects delayed.
Whitmore said February is typically a slow month, and that the company also hopes to benefit from work associated with the recently passed economic stimulus package.
Hufcor's wall systems are made at 18 plants and sold in 130 countries. Since its founding in 1900, Hufcor has completed installations at hundreds of convention centers and thousands of hotels.
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Mar 7, 2009 at 12:40 a.m.
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I know someone who has worked at Hufcor for a long time. They take the voluntary layoff every year. It's like a vacation to them.
Mar 4, 2009 at 12:54 a.m.
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Just another company hit by the world wide economic melt down. Props should be given to Hufcor for what they are trying. Problem is, it's likely things are not going to get better anytime soon, and layoffs will likely become permanent. The scary part of the situation we are in is that the unemployment #'s are NOT taking into account the MANY who are now under employed (hours cut back, ext).
Mar 3, 2009 at 7:05 p.m.
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this is not a new thing for hufcor. They tend to go though this every so often ..and many of the long tern emplyees tend to take the layoff witch often helps the lower senority people.
Mar 3, 2009 at 5:51 p.m.
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Props to them for trying. If this gives 60 employees and their families a chance to keep from losing everything , I respect them . Good job, Hufcor.
Mar 3, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.
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Well, I give them credit for trying. It might not work in the long run, this downturn might last too long for that. Still, it's better to try and retain as many as possible for the rebound.
Mar 3, 2009 at 4:46 p.m.
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This is a nice effort by a local company to equalize and minimize the hardships that accompany lay-offs. They are to be commended for trying a novel approach to the problem.
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