Simmons announces layoffs
JANESVILLE
A Janesville mattress manufacturer laid off 71 workers this week, a corporate spokeswoman confirmed this morning.
The Simmons Co. announced the layoffs to workers on Wednesday, said Christine Foster, speaking from the company’s Atlanta headquarters.
The workers’ last day of work was Friday, she said.
Fifteen of the layoffs were “voluntary,” Foster said. That means those employees volunteered to be laid off for 60 days. Those workers are assured of work if they return after the 60 days, Foster said.
The remaining layoffs were nonvoluntary. Foster could not say whether those workers would return to work, but she said Simmons will hire more workers if and when they’re needed, in response to market demand.
Simmons employed about 350 people in Janesville before the layoffs, Foster said.
The affected employees are eligible for Simmons’ Employee Assistance Program, which includes job, financial and personal counseling. They will also be immediately eligible for unemployment and health benefits under the federal COBRA legislation, Foster said.
May 3, 2008 at 9:23 a.m.
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My heart goes out to these workers and others who are experiencing job loss. COBRA benefits are being offered. Sounds wonderful. But COBRA premiums are more expensive than the premium paid while being an employee. Some unemployed workers might be able to afford the benefit through some other means. But for many unemployed, it's just not possible.
May 2, 2008 at 8:44 p.m.
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rooster - I just had to congratulate you on your comments regarding imports, etc. Right on!!! I feel the biggest problem in the US regarding gas and food is the increase in ethanol consumption and manufacture, leading to corn being misappropriated to fuel versus food for us and livestock. It is unfortunate as locally we have an ethanol plant (jobs) and farm fields of plenty (jobs). Let's hope in the future, we think our "carbon footprint" out better before going full scale into something that does not seem to benefit us.
May 2, 2008 at 7:01 p.m.
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Looks like Gov. Doyle has more to add to his "rapid response" list.
May 2, 2008 at 2:51 p.m.
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oh yeah, and layoffs
May 2, 2008 at 2:49 p.m.
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here is where our global economy has gotten us. we buy alot of china made products on the cheap. some of those products have been dangerous to our children (and probably all of us.) with the purchase of cheap products, our inflation has remained low. with the demand we have created, china needs more energy (gas) and that has contributed to shortages and spikes in fuel costs. the higher fuel costs has led to more expensive everything especially food. the result is inflation. that circle goes round and round and can only get bigger.
May 2, 2008 at 1:16 p.m.
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People need to wake up and support LOCAL BUSINESSES.
May 2, 2008 at 11:29 a.m.
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Nope, no recession going on here. Please move along.
May 2, 2008 at 10:55 a.m.
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Desperate times call for desperate measures.........
May 2, 2008 at 10:48 a.m.
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squid40naples- No they won't cause the Legal Immigrants won't do the work 12 hrs. and 7 days a week.... Sounds like you couldn't get in at seneca.LOL
May 2, 2008 at 10:28 a.m.
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Looks like Seneca might be able to have employees this summer who are not illegal immigrants.
May 2, 2008 at 10:17 a.m.
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I also heard on the radio this morning that Home Depot is CLOSING stores in Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac and Milwaukee. Yikes. Good Luck to all who are facing unemployment now and those of us who don't even know it yet!
May 2, 2008 at 10:17 a.m.
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Sad to here, I wonder if Jim Doyle knows, or even cares. I like Jim but he needs to spread it around to other.
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