Yes, overtime! It was said they will do that before having to hire (and possibly fire) more people. They do what they can.
And while I can't speak for all that were let go, I can look at the majority of who were walked out in my dept and know WHY they are not here anymore. And it was a long time coming for some. Sad, but true.

we lay people off, now we are on mandated overtime starting tomorrow.

031103: You are absolutely right. Any chance Mdrawz's screen name came from what he/she was actually doing last Wednesday?? LOL

Minnow: The negative comments are coming from people who are feeling burned by the lies we've been told and the hurt we feel in regards to the way our fellow employees were treated during this cut. We all know another ax is about to fall and that in the next round, it may be us that gets walked out. We don't know how to be better employees to make ourselves "safe" as many of the LSS46 were great employees that did not deserve this at all. But Minnow, if you want to think we are being selfish, that's fine. You go work for a company where you are lied to and cuts are being made because of "personal vendettas" rather than performance reasons.

I look at these posts and I wonder where are theses people coming from. I too worked at LSS, with great pride mind you. Some of the things are true but most are not, TRUST ME... Down the road all will come out. It's a sad day when some of the best people Lab had met there demise. It is also sad that we did not see this coming. I met my demise years before, but feel for these people like I did the day I was asked to leave. What a sad day that was, I felt as they do today. What did I do do deserve this? You did more or less what I did, Something you will think about for a long time and come up with no reason. Some of you Professional Bloggers will have a smart ass comment, but if you have ever worked for LAB, you will understand, Politics' plays a big role in working at Lab. You may put in 20 + years, you may play pool with the people you think you trust or feel you trust, you may watch indiscretions with a wink. But you still feel you are on even ground. Are you, I don't think so! Today, Saturday evening I think about my fiends, I wonder about you, I know many that were walked out, I can only feel the pain that you feel, and I do more then you think, you will recover. There are things you thought about years before, the things you thought you should do or accomplish when you signed on, to be the best you could be, when you thought at that time in your life, I will try hard for the people I work for. But what happened, time has changed, Don and Gerry aren't there. This is run by someone that thinks you are the number on your windshield, not by what you do, but who you have a beer with on Friday night or work out in the Fitness Center. Shame on you who have created a situation where the field isn't the same and play on the different playground but then you don't honor the work that people that pledged their time, life and effort to you with no more then a passing glance. I feel sad for you for not understanding the effort, time and commitment that each has given you. In a time of New Changes in our society you could have stood up proud, and been proud in changes in corporate life, but you have reduced yourself to what you strived to be, A Corporate Enigma.

Wow! "minnow" certainly has a way with words! How crude!
Im thinking, "minnow"...that you must be quite new to the company! Your glowing little tribute to the supervisors indicates a bit of "newness"... and your crude cutting on the laid off employees indicates just plain ignorance.

minnow22: I really think that was uncalled for. I too work at LSS and have a wonderful supervisor. But to say that our fellow workers who were let go were probably under-performing negative deadbeats is a low-blow. Do you personally know everyone who was let go???

The events that occurred this week @ Lab are very unfortunate. I would assume that most employers out there do not have a documented procedure for the ideal way to reduce staff. Lab handled things in a professional manner with which appeared to be on very short notice.

I am also a Lab employee and beleive the supervisor team is very good. They actually do care about their employees, and I have seen with my own eyes how they step forward to help us get through personal issues that come up often. Most of the supervisors show a sincere interest in our business and it's future. I'm thinking that some of the negative comments that are being thrown around out there are probably from under-performing negative deadbeats that are only interested in the paycheck and could really care a less about anything but themselves. I know the truth hurts at times !!

Seems as though ASHEED doesn't have anything to say anymore. I have to say, whoever that person is is completely insensitive and ignorant. The comments made in their post in regards to why people were let go were a clear attack on certain people in the group. I just wish everyone knew who this person was so that when the next cut happens, everyone could stand and applaud as their Highness gets escorted out.

ASHEED... I am certain you do not get 3 breaks in a row to be blogging on this sight.. maybe your job will be eliminated next for web surfing and blogging on company time!! Just a thought!!

ownerjones-Thank you for sharing your wise words. I did not work in the warehouse but your story is not much different from what happened up on the 4th floor. Everything from the way the "gestapo" (love that terminology) shuffled people out to the comparison between the "old" LabSafety sups to the newer vesion. On one end of the spectrum, there is an understanding of why a few of the people are gone to the other end where there is absolutely NO rhyme or reason--they were hard working, loyal, dedicated employees/friends that are now just gone. However, those that are gone can now at least move on, unlike some who are still standing in a waiting line waiting for the next gestapo pickup. Good luck to all past and present LSS friends and co-workers.

Oh, and to the ones that were let go. I know it seems like the world is closing in on you, but look at it this way, you have a couple month head start on the rest of us to find a new job. When they finally let us all go, we will be the ones stuck in the lurch. Most people I know that have been let go, they say it's the best thing that ever happened to them. If I knew you, know that I will miss you. Take care and God bless.

It was a very sad/scary situation around the old warehouse on Wednesday. The gestapo came out and shuffled people from the building. When the ones that were remaining inquired to their supervisors for an explanation, they were told "I don't HAVE to tell you anything" by a certain NS Supe. It's almost like we work for two different companies between the fourth floor and the warehouse. At least the ones that remained were told what exactly was going on.

It took until today before we were actually told the reason, of course, it was all taken with a grain of salt. There is no ryhme, there is no reason, some I understood, some I still don't. I'm not upset that this is happening, I understand that it's business, and we are in very dire circumstances as a country. But, at the very least, they could be honest.

I'm sure at every job every employee thinks that the supervisors are idiots, but it wasn't always that way. Not at Lab. When I first started, many, many years ago, the supervisors were a group of very knowledgeable people that seemed to actually care if you liked your job. Perhaps that was just being young and naive. Now, there are maybe 3 supervisors that could actually perform the job they are in charge of. Many of them, lean so hard on 1 or 2 of the employees, that when those people are gone the whole works is gummed up. The superiority complex they convey is mind boggling. Most people in the warehouse know, if you have a problem, the LAST person you go to is a supervisor. They are a measure of last resort.

juslissen-is it because Hufcor employees were told - and knew fully well that this day was coming verses what the LSS employees were told? That is the difference.

juslissen - I would suggest there is something very wrong with the policies and internal politics within LSS. My observations are born out of the poor performance, factual, of its business growth and the total unawareness of its employees for the dire straights it's in. None of these things happened overnight. Straight talk is difficult at best, but it can motivate people to make decisive changes/decisions.

Are you people BLIND? This is obviously the work of Lord Voldemort and his followers. He has been ruining muggle families for years, and now you want to turn your back on the truth and instead start pointing your fingers at the greedy heartless executives that pour garbage bags full of money all over their expensive carpet and roll around in it while making random calls to LSS management telling them to let people go? You've got it ALL WRONG.

Who cares if bloggers are insiders or outsiders -- it's about freedom of speech opinions! How come the 65 employee layoff at HUFCOR, a company of 300 isn't as blog worthy as what LSS seems to be? I said it before, if it's such a bad place to work you should be glad to be getting pay and benefits while you are on the hunt for your dream job.

ohwow - fair enough. Up to this point the stock has reliably traded between low $70's and mid $80's. Right now my concern is that Grainger has always said that hard economic times has allowed them to gain market share and grow. This time they are singing a different story?

Well, as all of us are 100% sure, neither management of Grainger nor LSS would ever mislead, misrepresent, cover up, or *gasp* lie about anything...so I think we should believe local_interest. And yes, in case you didn't get it, that comment was dripping with cynical sarcasm.

local_interest, I would probably invest your money elsewhere at this point and time.

ohwow & grandrixgirl - respectively.
No not for fun, but if anyone wants to buy Grainger stock, due diligence is absolutely required. Management/employee... not! FYI - go to grainer.com investor relations - including archives - and see for yourselves. It's all there, if you dare to invest the time and effort. Your choice...

local-interest most definatly is management. Just way too informed--providing information that could only have been heard from the "inside". I think "asheed" is inside as well-but that person is scary! How opinionated!! Scary to think a person with those thoughts is walking the halls of LSS. How judgemental as well.
Sad, really.

So, let me get this straight local_interest...you are not employed by either LSS or Grainger however, you read "Grainger press releases, financial reports and investor conference call transscripts over the past few years" for fun?

elamentalvirago - I understand how and why you came to your conclusion. I am not employed by either LSS or Grainger. The jargon you reference was pulled directly from Grainger press releases, financial reports and investor conference call transscripts over the past few years. Everything I have written is available to the public. I am not defending LSS or Grainger, but I am making the point that people can/should use these resouces to better understand their employer's performance, problems, direction and current situation.

That said... I have no doubt that most LSS and Grainger management do not want to discussions the contents of the aforementioned public documents - it's too risky. The mantra is probably the least said the better.

To all of my fellow LSSers who were laid off, keep your chins up and I hope and pray that things will get better for you and yours.

But I highly doubt you will reply because it appears that you've only just created a user name so you can exercise some amount of damage control in this forum and now realize we're not at stupid or naive as you once thought. Or hoped.

asheed_mdrawrz I would really like to know who you are. Instead of hiding behind your username. I fell that if you were to tell us your real name you wouldn't say half of the stuff your saying now. I was also someone who was let go and I had just had my review a couple weeks earlier and it was amazing. And if someone has a chronic condition it should be cover by FMLA there for they can not fire you for it.

local_interest - your use of company jargon and seeming intimate knowledge of the situation leads me to be believe that you must be in management at LSS or Grainger. If that's true it's too bad you couldn't have told this to the employees' faces instead of anonymously on a blog.

Queen_Lion - you can't just single out the acquistions. As I stated in my original post "there are many factors." The growth problems for LSS started years ago. Only the president and his management can answer questions such as yours.

I understand and agree with everything you said. What I don't get is why LSS keeps on buying up these "poor performing acquisitions" and some of the poor performing acquisition employees that may accompany them? Why not focus on improving and bettering the companies they already have instead of adding more misery?

This is an unfortunate situation for many people and their families. However, acknowledging the future of LSS – including continued employment – could minimize the angst many are feeling.

LSS is owned by Grainger, a publicly held corporation. Therefore, it must continually justify itself through continued sales and retained earnings growth. Unfortunately, over the past few years the exact opposite has happened. While it remains a profitable operation, it is less profitable today. Moreover, its continually rising business costs eat away at earnings. There are many contributing factors such as increased competition; less demand for its products, poor performing acquisitions, an out-of-date business model and lastly the current economy. This really put LSS between a rock and a hard spot.

Grainger had to act to protect its investment. This is the reason for “combining” LSS with Industrial Supply. The parent company, Grainger, has the capacity in its infrastructure (i.e. catalog production, supply-chain, DC’s and IT systems) to absorb all LSS customer orders and likely fulfill them faster. All this can be done at a much lower cost, because the duplicate LSS infrastructure can be eliminated. Unfortunately, additional LSS employees will be let go as pieces of LSS infrastructure are eliminated and replaced by Grainger's. The LSS “brand” can be maintained anywhere. What remains to be seen is whether, or not, there are sound financial reasons to maintain any presence in Janesville. Only time will tell.

My heart goes out to all the workers...I remember working at Dana Corp in the late 70's and having management call a Friday meeting where they told everyone tough titties buckos, you're all sacked, effecive immediately...now everyone in Janesville is in the same boat, except the wealthy...arise sleepers, all this will ripple down affecting all and each, lower property values, less tax revenues (sales, income and property taxes), triggering more layoffs...who's going to buy your house? your car? your snowmobile? Do you think the owner of Prent will have to sell his turbo jet and drive to his private island in the Care-a-being?
What's the big picture here? The working man needs to see a proctologist. The owners and the wealthy and the Republican got the workers fighting with themselves a long time ago and now it's just too late...we all all saw the end of "Communism", brotherly love doesn't work...but greed and mindless consumerism does? Are we all so naive to think that we are not witnessing the end of Capitalism?

Time to think about the big picture and our sister city across the lake, Flint Michigan...

Workers u-night
Goldenstarch-

asheed_mdrawrz-you've answered the questioned you asked me "If the LSS mold is "compliant robot" and you don't fit that description, then why would they keep you or anyone else over someone who does fit?" I didn't fit the mold.
I don't want your sympathy. I'll pick up and move on to a job that is more align with my skills and personality. However, I also do not appreciate the comments about the LSS employees that were let go being internet surfing, injury soaking slackers not doing their jobs and that is why they were the "chosen". What I do want is open-minded discussion, not accusatory statements like those you made previously. I think that everyone deserves the same compassion you display in your statement about employees at the other businesses that have closed or cut back "through no fault of their own, most of which are honest hard working people". I completely agree with you on this statement. Most of the time it is NOT the employees fault....and there are many factors that come into play with who is let go and not molding is one of them. But, let's not belittle others and cast blame on to the workers. Though I'm not disagreeing that there may be a FEW in that group, insinuating that the majority of LabSafety employees that were let go deserved it is just wrong.

"I’m sure there were a few of the LS46 that were let go for no good reason other than someone had to be cut."

Lioness, I did leave another option, although I also said those that deserved it would argue about how worthy they are. So tell me, why do you think you were let go? If the LSS mold is "compliant robot" as you say, and you don't fit that description, then why would they keep you or anyone else over someone who does fit? If my post sounds insensitive, it may be because there are literally thousands of people who have lost their jobs in this community in the last six months through no fault of their own, most of which are honest hard working people. And now I’m expected to feel sorry for 46 people that were selected as being the best candidates for termination? Sorry, can’t do it.

Gandalf-there abolutely was.

asheed_mdrawrz -I don't fit into the internet surfing group on "myspace, facebook, eBay, and youtube" catagory nor the "milk out an injury, or a chronic condition, or a flooded house" catagories you describe. While there may be some that fit in that group, you should be careful what you say; it's much easier to have that view point--if you are not effected by what happened at LSS. Would you feel the same if it you were? I suppose if you are someone that is still at LSS, it may make you FEEL better to assume that--and it lessons some of the fear to think that those that got let go deserved it in some way. Notice to those still at Lab Safety: Don't believe it. I know at least 3 people let go who I would describe as exceptional employees. There are probably more, but I won't comment on what I don't know. All 3 fit in the "don't kiss up--don't be afraid to share new ideas" group. I'm betting they would still be there had they been more like a compliant robot.

Uh huh... favoritism towards harder working employees.

asheed, your statement, 'But I bet for the most part those chosen were on the lower end of the “valued employee” scale.' is very insensitive and probably inaccurate, to boot. There was undoubtedly a degree of favoritism involved in the decision-making process.

What do you think would happen if they turned 46 terminated employees loose in the building? Do you really think they would go pack up their desk and leave quietly? I highly doubt it. They would cause a disruption to the everyday business for hours. No notice??? Your severance package is your notice. Would you rather they say “Come to work everyday for the next month and then you are outta here”? As far as being “escorted” out… For those that don’t know, LSS has a security system that requires a pass card to go through pretty much any door in the building. When you are terminated, you no longer have this card. How else are they suppose to get out of the building? It’s not like they had armed guards hauling them away. I’m sure there were a few of the LS46 that were let go for no good reason other than someone had to be cut. But I bet for the most part those chosen were on the lower end of the “valued employee” scale. They will argue this, but the fact that they cannot see it is the very reason they are gone. Not everybody works as hard as they think they do. When you spend most of your day on myspace, facebook, eBay, and youtube instead of doing what you were hired for… guess what? They can get by without you. When you milk out an injury, or a chronic condition, or a flooded house you are hurting the company, not helping it. Why would they want to keep you? Just because you have seniority and have been allowed to be dead weight for years, does not make you a valuable employee. For those left I say good luck and keep your nose to the grindstone, there will be more cuts before this is over.

tanq & biggirl-you both have it exactly right. It's the little guys&gals like the LSS people let go that are suffering the consequences of the big corpations getting bonuses, taking extravagant vacations, etc. Although I'm sure LSS is probably not in line for bailout money-not just yet anyway-DON'T believe for one second that the executives of LabSafety did not see a big fat bonus at the end of 2008--just like every other year. Congratulations on a job well done. Now, go home, enjoy that bonus, take that vacation and don't think for one minute about the homes that will be foreclosed on by any of those EX-employees you walked out yesterday!

Sounds like you'll all be much happier then if labsafety was so bad, I didn't realize that -- go live your life and good luck!

So many comments on who to blame for the mess this country is in. It's not the Bush admimastration or the Obama administration. It's the bank ceo's and wall street. There is one word that perfectly describes what happened to this country: GREED!

I can't tell you how depressed I am to hear about this. I can't tell you how depressed I am to read these arguments, always directed at the worker. We can spend our time talking about this or that bad worker, but we can't realize that our whole way of life is disappearing. If you have to get angry, get angry at the big corporations and fat cats that get tons of bail-out money only to laugh at and disrespect the workers.

Why does everyone keep saying that the lack of a union has something to do with the "picking and choosing"? From what I gather, there wasn't much, if any, of the warehouse staff laid off. The positions that were eliminated don't sound as if they are "union jobs" anyway!

nhpygy..very well said!

Unfortunately, the nature of our economy today is less than positive. When are we all going to understand that relationships between employers and employees need to be stronger, now more than ever. Good work ethics, ingenuity and teamwork made this country the strongest in the world. It's time to stop the blaming and the feeling of entitlement and pick ourselves up and go back to the drawing board. Companies with the workforce not willing to participate and make some concessions when needed will not survive. I urge you all, help.

I was also one of those people who worked at LSS that just all of a sudden got let go for no reason what so ever. I was on light duty for a stress fracture in my leg from work mind you, and they must have thought I was on it to long. So one day they just all of a sudden called me down to a room and let me go, never let me get my things out of my locker nothing. Just walked me out that door. I always got excellent reviews,and got along with others. I do have a question for LSS. If you just had to lay off these people, why did you go and buy another company?? I think there are ways to help these people keep their jobs. And yes there are people who don't deserve their jobs at all. But LSS does not treat people that great. Yes, they have all these things like excercise room, if you can find time to get up there to use it. When your done with work that is all you want to do is go up and work out at your job. Only the people upstairs used it mostly, they had the sit down jobs so they weren't very tired when they left. They also had air conditioning when the warehouse didn't and you were wet when you left work in the summer. At LSS it's all who you know, no matter what kind of a work ethic you have. You can work very hard everyday and get treated like crap. It's all in who you know to get far in that company. I do feel bad for the people they let go, because I got very depressed when they did that to me, only because I was a good hard working employee,and never called in. I have my reviews to show it. But there is happiness after leaving there.
I do miss all my friends but i still keep in contact with some of them. Hopefully these people will be able to find work and be happy. LSS is not the place to work at. It might of been a good place to work many many years ago, but that all changed, its not the same place. Good luck to all those who are losing their jobs. Kep your head up, things will be all good in the long run.

Unfortunately, the layoffs will continue,and how each individual company chooses to handle the process will anger those subject to the layoffs. With exceptions of course, I believe the current generation of employed have a less than desirable work ethic. "Pay me, then I will work hard." rather than "Let me show you what a valuable employee I am, and compensate me accordingly." I think the layoffs will encourage those still employed to value their jobs and work hard to keep them. I also believe that those with poor work ethics are those that cry the loudest about being treated unfairly. Spend less time worrying about what everyone else is getting away with, or how much better other companies are, and more time just simply doing your job. We should all work and save as if we will be the next to be layed off and create and image that will make us a desirable candidate for the next job. It is an employers market right now, they have the luxury of hiring a qualified candidate rather than settling for a "warm body"! Work hard, stay positive, and don't be a "warm body"

opinionsforfree, what about your dem buddies Pelosi, Reid and Dumbo Barney who forced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make loans to people who couldn't afford them that helped put us in this mess. Also those 3 musketeers made money on that sweet deal. Mr. Obama has not impressed me much. This stimulus package has so much pork and payback to his buddies that helped him get elected it stinks. We do have to do something but why does it have to smell so bad. Please...money for Pelosi's pet SDT project. Obama has potential. He needs to lose some bad people and advisors surrounding him. How can you trust someone with his batting average so far. I have lost count on his poor cabinet choices. Come on.

That just goes to show that they think of you as a commodity...nothing more...nothing less.

I want to say one last thing to juslissen before I go to sleep, in case you do read this. I did think that LSS was a good employer until this happened. I feel that the "pay an benefit package, thier health plan that includes free medical care, free lunches, a fitness teacher time off for bell ringing and other events and fun parties to network" as you say was wonderful but we are not talking about that at all. While, I am extremely grateful to have temporary work, I do hope to find a permanent position with an employer who will treat me as well as LSS did while I was employed and up until all of this drama started. I am sure that it is going to be hard to compete with. I do not think that any of the "burned" LSSers have even commented on the way we were treated while employed, only the way that we were treated in regards to the lay offs and on the way out. Just wanted to clear that up.

Right on -ohwow-. People like that have no place in a conversation like this because they don't know what they're talking about. I'm glad juslissen said good night.

my sister worked there about 7 years. some were there 20 that left today and some only a few months. some areas hit hard like 2 photographers, 3 IT,one vp, no seretaries I don't think and lots of the front liners.

I love it when people look to the internet to feed their inner desire to participate in conflict that doesn't involve them.

I am "ready to conquer" actually. I have accepted a position in my family's business. Thanks so much for your well wishes. You are really doing a service to the LSSers who have lost their jobs by involving yourself in this discussion.

How long have you worked for them?

And they may not be alone in the way they handle lay-offs...but it still doesn't excuse their lack of trust in their employees.
It does show they have no class. But obviously, class is not high on their list of attributes.

I disagree. Goodnight.

juslissen...OK forget the love fest...but even GM didn't kick their employees in the butt the way Grainger did.

ow wow you sound all ready to conquer. You should have a job by next week if you're so prepared. cut the sarasm, it's getting old. John doe, you obviously haven't worked in a big company where being thanked for hard work wasn't a hug on the way out the door at night. Appreciation was evident in the pay an benefit package, thier health plan that includes free medical care, free lunches, a fitness teacher time off for bell ringing and other events and fun parties to network. I'd like to see you run a billion dollar organizaion in multiple locations and handle evertything so perfectly. those left there still have expectations and I'm sure they will be working their butts off. Did you think of that?

Good luck to all of you at LSS and all of the other people in the Janesville community that have lost their jobs recently. It is so sad that Janesville has taken the hits it has over the last few months, especially with the quality of workers it has to offer.

Too bad labor in other countries is so cheap too. Hopefully Grainger/LSS won't outsource their customer service to some foreign country like so many other companies have done. Is Iowa a foreign country? LOL!

juslissen, while I am sure your comments are coming from a kind place... I can not help but feel disrespected.

I have to say that I am sorry that you feel that your current job is not secure and are prepared to have to find a new one. Us "LS46" may have been doing the same (preparing to find a new job) had we not been convinced repeatedly that our jobs were safe. I don't want to be the one to beat a dead horse, but that apparently needed to be stated once more.

I am not "angry" because I feel that I do not have marketable skills or that I was "entitled" to keep my LSS job. I know that I will find another job as I have many marketable skills that were not being utilized in my LSS customer service position. I truly feel that for me, this was a blessing in disguise.

The value of outplacement puts you in front of those who ARE hiring, not those who you'd otherwise just send your resume to. If you got an outplacement counseling option take advantage of it and tell the entire LS46 group to also -- your neighboring communities are flourishing. Go show them how the Rockford technogines and the Madison biotechs and health care are on top of their game. They know how long your unemployed on severence-- they are paying you. Go out and show them you are marketable. You are, right? If not then maybe that's where your anger is coming from now isn't it? I have a job but my resume is ready and I could have a job in a day but I'm ready unlike a lot of you who had some kind of LS entitlement to a job. Go get em.

*assistance

Yeah -- the last place I was at, JohnDoe, was like you just stated -- but... you ARE wrong about one thing.. I am NOT under thirty -- I just tuned thirty on Friday -- happy birthday -- you're fired! ; )

ohwow - LOL - OMG isn't that the truth?!!

These "outplacement services"... uh huh. Good call LSS. I was told that they are offering resume writing assitance and teaching interviewing skills. I am pretty sure if you passed the extensive interview/cavity search/interrogation to get into LSS in the first place... you do not need these services.

But I appreciate the offer.

Seriously zythia...I would guess by your comments (but correct me if I'm wrong) that you are probably under 30 and have not been exposed to many employers whose integrity was as solid as their business.

There was a time...long, long ago...when employers had a trust in the people they hired.
They trusted those people to do their jobs and thanked them when their job performance made money for the company.

They also had enough faith in those same employees to be honest with them when times were tough, and give them a little bit of advance notice of an impending lay-off...and more importantly trusted them to do their jobs in a professional manner up to the day of a lay-off. With all the bashing that GM took, at least they trusted their employees to be professional in such a situation...and those employees proved worthy of that trust.

Apparently LSS doesn't think as highly of their employees.

How sad.

It speaks volumes of Grainger. And not in a good way.

LOL Queen Lion -- I intend to go next week to the meeting to find out! ; )

But, I ALSO have to say that the last place I was at was going under, and had a layoff -- and they DID call everyone into a room, sign the papers.. and then they all just got their stuff and walked out, saying goodbye to everyone.. it was a MUCH smaller company, but it was still about 25 people who got laid off at that place... I guess because everyone knew EVERYONE at that place.. that may have made a difference...

Can anyone tell me the value in the term "outplacement services" in today's economy?

In a way, JohnDoe, we kind of have been given "notice" with the severance package and extended benefits -- It's kind of like getting over a MONTH'S notice, full pay and benefits --to try to get a new job -- I'm not saying it wasn't shocking -- I've been there for a few years, and am raising a six-year-old... and I know the job market SUCKS... but I also know how much it sucks for the people who have to shake your hand... and then say "sorry." And that they will be worrying about the impact that had to have on people's lives -- and may ALSO be wondering if they might be next... you just never know... and being escorted out does suck -- but what do you do if someone IS untrustworthy? Do you take the chance that they might take someone hostage, or something like that? I think the liability is too high.. I think they could be a little more accommodating, when they walk you out... and let everyone pack up, and take their time -- but there were SO many people let go today.. how would you staff the over-seeing of the packing up with THAT many people? It's just all crappy, no matter HOW you look at it. And I know that it has happened in the past that they have let a bunch of people go,(not THIS many, though...) and then a few months later, started hiring again. Gotta balance the budget.. when sales are down, they're down... Hoping I'll be able to keep in contact with my work cronies... and not lose some of the friendships that are based on going there everyday... bummer.

opinion80
The term makes no difference to me--the end result is the same.

To whomever was offended by my post and asked for it to be removed. Do you prefer the term butt kissers? Word has it if you are a professional butt kisser at LSS, you will have a job for life. Pucker up everyone!!

I always thought that unless you were getting let go for disciplinary reasons common courtesy is give these poor folks some sort of a notice! Oh but wait....YOU have to give THEM a 2 week notice not vice versa!

JohnDoe:And what's with "escorting" their employees out? It sounds like they don't trust the very employees that made money for them in the good times?
THANK YOU!!

Queen Lion, you're right you deserve to vent and I wasn't there and don't mean to try to change your feelings with cheeriness. Just do get back up that saddle -- Janesville needs you. My best wishes to the LS folk that have a new door to open tomorrow morning.

tjncj wrote..."So how DO you lay off 50 people? Call them into a room together and tell them they are done go clean your desks out and go home? Meet them at the door in the morning and say, nope can't come in today! Unfortunately this is the best way to handle the situation and how managers are taught. Have you ever been in this position?"

Yes, I have been there. More than once. And I'll tell you that any company with any class will give their employees more notice than that. At the two companies I worked at we were given a minimum notice of one week.

If Grainger had any class the would have done the same.

And what's with "escorting" their employees out? It sounds like they don't trust the very employees that made money for them in the good times?

Says a lot about this outfit.

I know many of the "LSS 46" that were let go today and I feel very sorry for them. I understand that many of them are feeling anger and some downright rage at being let go the way they did, but this happens everywhere. Being walked out and not given a chance to get any personal effects is the way that it is at almost every company these days. I have many friends who have dealt with this same way of getting let go and it's an industry standard now a days. I do want to know that if you had been told that things are rotten right now and to plan to get let go if it would have made your letting go any better? I'm not sure which is worse, the waiting for it to happen or the surprise tactic. Both stink. I'm so sorry for everyone that got let go.

juslissen-you do raise some good points, and I value everyone's right to share their opinions. But today is the day that many of us LSS employees felt a big slap in the face after years of loyal service. You know nothing of the behaviors of anyone there that got let go. Please dont discount or rush to judge our feelings and turn some slightly angry comments into some lightheareted "cheeriness". We will all "get back in the saddle" and move forward--but let those vent that deserve to do so.

To each our own opinion about severance packages but the fact that everyone got one and then some is more than many other job cuts in the nation. I may be next at my job -- maybe by then I can go apply at Lab Safety because years of positive reflection can't make the comments on here cause me any different feelings about one of janesville's community leaders.

ohwow and zythia you seem to have level heads. The anger in the others here is true representation of ignorance. Seniority or not -- trouble makers or not--someone at LSS had to make some business decisons and the fact that you all have so much to complain about regarding how it was handled makes me think there was a lot of attention to detail giving you things to complain about. Do you think the LSS management should have told everyone ahead of time there was a layoff coming? Come on. This story about meetings where you were told "everything is ok" shows that ignorance -- the Grainger/LSS earnings are public knowledge -- study up a bit chaps! I bet the LSS management is home for another sleepless night, no one likes this. Now get off your sad horse and ride into the job center and get yourself back into the market.

opinion80 - THAT is the most true thing I have heard about LSS in quite some time!

Unfortunately, there is some truth to the last blog.

ohwow-I'm with you.
I am also confident that I was not thought of as a "trouble-maker" in any way, shape, or form-far from it.

I know of at least one supervisor that was let go. They were definitly not discriminating by department or title.

I am not quite sure who thought that the severence package was "generous" but I have to disagree.

Good thought. There is some truth to the old saying, when one door closes, another one opens! Here's to everyone who walked out that door today......Make the most of the next door you walk through---Lab Safety's loss will be someone else's gain!

I would think with LSS cutting 46 jobs, they should have a couple extra Supervisors now. When will they cut them?

Zythia, I was one of the 46 let go today as well and I have a perfectly clean record and don't think that I was considered a "trouble maker" by any means.

I am actually sort of relieved. I am sure that there are more to come and I would not want to just be sitting around, waiting to be in the next round of layoffs. I am sure that they will tell everyone this is it but we all know that there will be more to come and I for one, would not want to be sitting there everyday working my butt off knowing that for no good reason, I could be next.

My husband and I both worked at Lab Safety. In 2002, his whole department, including a few other people, were let go due to a downsizing. He had been with the company for 15 years. No warning. Two years later, I was let go after 15 years of service. I really don't think they treat their employees very well. For those of you who were let go, this really is a blessing in disguise. I now work for a company that appreciates what I do for them and I'm not treated like a number. My husband feels the same way.

ohwow- exactly!

What gets me, is the people let go were given not one shred of notice. I believe the word is "blindsided". And its not new people being let go--its seasoned employees that have given years to their job. Even at the management level! A good friend was let go. And Im really angry! At the very least--the employees should be told how they selected their victims. What criteria? How can those of us still "waiting" for the axe to fall, how can we know what "not to do"??? But I dont really think those let go "did" anything.
We will have more meetings now. We will be told how bad managemnt feels..how it had to be done...how it shouldnt happen again ( but it will).... only I think THIS time...there wont be a gullible person believing a word in that room.

This article IS accurate... Grainger owns LSS, and has for a very long time. Grainger/LSS is doing the layoffs because of a 9 percent drop in sales or whatever. This article doesn't even reference the "new rules" that just happened a few months ago -- it's just stating the fact that Grainger owns lab.

I was one of the 46 let go today. I WAS allowed to go back to my work station, and get my things -- I wasn't crying or anything, and wasn't hostile -- maybe that has something to do with my being able to get my personal things; maybe it was just whoever walked me down; maybe it's because I didn't have a desk -- who knows -- but I wouldn't have been able to leave without my coat and keys! ; ) And I didn't keep much else there, so it was easy to grab... I did forget a spare jacket, and two other things -- But I think I'll have a friend grab it for me if he can...

I DO wish they hadn't been telling us that everything is all fine and good when it really WASN'T..

As for the seniority thing.. they chose people by position, and eliminated a few people from all areas -- they took a look at write-ups an bad reviews, and "trouble-makers" ; ) -- and THEN they MIGHT have taken a look at seniority.. or they might have looked at healthy people, or looked at people they like -- it's not a union -- they can do what they want with their business -- sad for us, but true for business..

but as someone said earlier in this post -- "there is life after Lab..." and we have been told that we can reapply if positions open again in the future... I'm not saying it doesn't suck, but years from now we'll look back and laugh.. right? : (

good luck, everybody! miss you all!

As I was being informed of my "layoff" today, I informed the HR and customer service managers that I thought that they should be ashamed of themselves for lying to us. When they asked me what on earth I could possibly mean, I said, "You pulled us all into these meetings to assure us that our jobs were safe and not to worry. And told us that yes, the economy was bad, but LSS was doing fine. Then this happens." He informed me that those were not their exact words. That they never told us not to worry. So, I just said... "That is okay, you have become so accustomed to lying, just keep on doing it."

tjncj-what's wrong with giving people ANY type of notice? Everyone understands how the economy is struggling. None of us are idiots. But, when we were told last month not to worry about getting laid off--and this month we are signing on the dotted line............that's a problem. It's down right demeaning to those let go.........and all of our friends left behind. And, no I don't think any of the managers there enjoyed walking their employees to the door--but they feel better than us that walked OUT the door!

It had everything to do with the Grainger collaboration. They trained Grainger reps on our jobs and then let us go.

BeenThereDoneThat: you were informed of the situation much different than I was. We were told last Friday that everything was all good and 3 days later they are letting people go???
"We'll just tell them everything is fine and get 3 good days of work outta them....."
We were told months ago that "this(the collaberation) is a good thing" and not to worry. Smile smile.....
I also took that with a grain of salt! As far as I'm concerned this isnt the end. Maybe it is an economy thing but what a coincedence!
If you look at history, mergers are not usually good things for the workers, the corp., maybe but not the worker!

Exactly. I can't speak for anyone else, but the big problem I have with all of this is that we were told-repeatedly-one month ago that our jobs were NOT in danger. Obviously that was not correct information. You can't honestly tell me that as the article states-"all of a sudden" after one bad month of sales-January-as the article states--that LSS just decided to get rid of 50 people? Excuse me but I need a lot more rose tint on my glasses to believe that one! Give people some notice, a little bit of a heads up to these loyal people is surely what they all deserve!

Shopierehuh--If Lab was a union shop they would have had to file for bankruptcy protection by now. The assets would have been seized, the front doors locked and every one of their employees would be without a job......

So how DO you lay off 50 people? Call them into a room together and tell them they are done go clean your desks out and go home? Meet them at the door in the morning and say, nope can't come in today! Unfortunately this is the best way to handle the situation and how managers are taught. Have you ever been in this position? Do you know how incredibly hard this is for the person letting them go? Nobody wants to see this happen. Unless you have a better idea you'd like to share, give them a break.

It doesn't matter if it's the economy or not they had absolutely NO REASON to repeatedly lie to us for months. It's bad business I don't care how long they've been around.

Back up the train folks. It was explained clearly to those of us who haven't lost our jobs at LSS that the layoffs today were due to th economy and had very little to do with the Grainger collaboration. With the economy the way that it is, this would have happened whether we had started the Grainger collaboration or not. I feel badly for those who were let go, some of them were close friends of mine. I wish the best of luck to those who were handed that bad news today. Good luck to all of you.

I am with 03113 and QUEEN_LION....they way they handled things was very wrong.

You can't handle the truth!!

Wow Vesta, that talk is uncalled for.

This is how it is done in non-union shop. Senority means nothing. What do the union bashers have to say about this?

Hate to say it, but I told you so. And even more bad news is on the way. Aren't you glad that our we have such great leadership in the private and public sector?!

And the beat goes on......

Oh, Scott Angus every manager at LSS owes YOU an apology. As someone stated earlier, we were all smiled at and lied to a couple of months ago. We were told that YOU got the information wrong, that the JV Gazette had "sensationalized" another story. Well I say to LSS at least the Gazette didn't LIE TO US!!

juslissen-I was also in the group that was axed today from LSS. Before you go accusing people of not having their facts straight--consider this, maybe your sister is the exception to what went down today. My experience was different. I was not allowed to take my children's pictures, awards, and other very special, personal and sentimental items were left sitting on my desk when I was walked out today-five minutes after I was "cut"....14 years after walking in.

I guess i am "lucky" and survived this round, but i am wondering if this is the end. My gut tells me no. And that just makes me wonder how close my head actually is to the chopping block. It was totally unprofessional the way they did things today. We have been told for months not to worry and then they all of a sudden start the layoffs. I am sympathetic toward all my former coworkers and am hoping that i do not soon join you.

Looks like Phillips off his meds.

Villalamesville- what's your damage?

villalamesville... vengeful much? Wow, you are the blog police? These folks have so much to contribute... back off buddy.

There hasn't been any loyalty since Hedbergs sold to Grainger. I was on disability when that was announced and I had to read it in the paper.

031103- Exactly! Why go to all the trouble of reassuring us on multiple occasions only to turn around and do exactly what the first Gazette Article predicted MONTHS ago. Good company loyalty my @%&.

031103- You're absolutely right! My thoughts exactly.

These sudden lay-offs with no rhyme or reason are the absolute worst thing to do for company morale. Now everyone will be walking on eggshells wondering when they will be getting "escorted out".

With the economy as it is.... no one is "safe".
The first to go would be the more seasoned veteran in the company, which can be fairly "easily" replaced with a less experienced (yet teachable) cheaper wage earning employee. Seniority is a joke nowadays. Employers see them as an overpaid higher risk/medical drain. Our local workers of seniority are 50 plus in age. We make more, have more experience and a valuable work ethic.

Here's the problem (besides a crappy economy) we have college kids that can't get a job! Anyone kid in their 20's is cheaper labor than the "lifer" employee.

It's all a "numbers" game. And survival... and it sucks!!!

Everyday I hear people complaining about there jobs at my work and want to slap them. I tell them at least were still employed!!!

When times are tough, the true colors seem to show.
If this is how Grainger handles lay-offs, ( they wouldnt even let me get my things. they told me and walked me out.) I hope they go belly-up.
They don't deserve consumer loyalty if this is what they think of employee loyalty.

I worked for LSS for 10 1/2 years and back in the spring of 2002, this exact same thing happened to me There were 30 of us that were let go for no rhyme or reason. I didn't see it coming either. I knew something was up when I couldn't log on to my computer. Minutes later I was called into my Manager's office and given the terrible news. I can sympathize with all of you going through this. Hang in there ... there is life after LSS!

I didn't mean to sound harsh in my last post. I feel terrible for everyone at LSS who lost there jobs today and everyone else who is going through a layoff at this time. Hang in there.

You are right tjncj it is far from over. I am here with my sister who was let go and she says that it was very planned and since there is no union at labsafety it would never be done in seniority fashion. They got to talk to their boss and someone from Human Resources about severence (which is generous I would like to add) and then a job coach. Then they went to get their things and could take as long as they want. They can also go back whenever they want to with a HR staff member to get everything else. Her papers even say there is a workshop to help them get jobs next week. She said the rush today was just so the business wasn't in chaos since they are a classy company. I commend my sister for being so proud to have worked there and handle her layoff like she is. Maybe all you naysayers should get your facts before you bash one of the community leaders.

sannio: Go to the Wisconsin State website. Check state labor laws. From what I understood, and I may be wrong, I think they need to layoff 25% or more within a 90 day period to give notices to the employees. I'm so sorry to all of you who have lost your jobs. I know how it feels. My husband was laid off when GM and Lear shut down. It's been really tough. Have faith and hope that things will turn around soon.

Just my opinion, but no big surprise to me that LSS handled things this way. Guess I got out just in time! I feel sorry for all of my friends and former co-workers though. Keep your heads up, you are all worth more than that company will ever give you credit for.

The unfortunate reality is that companies are going to have to make cuts to survive. Sometimes it is the higher paid longer tenure employees are the only choice. Get used to it, its far from over.

I wonder if people who work in purchasing departments at other companies would have their vendor decisions affected if they were to read this article?

Don't they have to give notice with so many employees? I wouldn't wait for them to send me my things. I'd file a police report to try and recover my stolen property.

I'm so glad I was out of there years ago. This doesn't surprise me at all. I wonder how they're chosing who to lay off this time. Last time they did this it didn't seem like there was any pecking order.

Also canceling emails ahhhhhhhhhh not good. And not going by seniority just pick and choose.

It sounds more like job elimination as to the wording in the article. And not letting "laid off workers get their things" and walking them to the door they didnt do that at hufcor. And offering severance packages sounds like good bye.

wisconsingirl52....the economy is bad. We can blame both democrats and republicans on this. The bottom line, our government has let us down! And I am not just talking about the current or the past administrations, I am talking about both! I am glad they are trying to fix it, it is a complicated thing to fix. Its not as easy as you all think. I hope things will turn around. I am sure they will. Obama is not a horrible person, neither was Bush. Its just terrible what has happened to our country. We need to be united and not divided. People who hated G.W. BUsh...he's gone...its over, nothing we can do about it now...the past is the past...And as for Obama haters...he;s OUR President now...your guy lost...get over it...we need to stick together.

God help everyone affected by both party failures.

dqandhallie, Sorry but you dont have a clue. Obama didnt get us in this mess, Your good ole' pale Bush did. The market has been on the downward spiral for a year if not more! Dont blame Obama. So please think before you type we would all appreciate it. Thanks!

I don't know of a good way to handle today, but LSS/Grainger didn't follow any of the "standard" layoff moves. They assumed we all had internet access and could read the memos through yahoo. Then they were "plucking" people and sending them on their way. 20-25 year employees...some very strong were sent packing (without their personal belongings -- those will be sent to them). There will be additional eliminations to come at that company.

I was just laid off and my e-mail not longer works. They had it shut off instantly.

Just look at what happened to the stock market when Obama's head man on the recovery team spoke yesterday it tanked again, the market gets it- Obama's staff doeds not have a clue on wht to do! who is leading these fools

I'm definitely nervous, especially after all the "reassuring" meetings we've had over the past few months

Yes I'm in contact with him right now and unfortunately he is one of those 50 people.

This is unsettling, but not unexpected. Many companies generally weather recessions with just one round of layoffs, but this one is already looking like there will be multiple waves of job losses surpassing anything in memory. With no credit, companies cannot wait for sales to rebound. With no jobs, consumers cannot risk purchases. A vicious cycle ensues.
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The point of spending money we don't have, rooster, is to create demand in the economy. You're still stuck on 19th-century economics, alas. Catch up to World War II and John Maynard Keynes one of these days. The countries that dealt with the Great Depression quickly with deficit spending and, yes, inflationary monetary policy (to counteract deflation), survived better than those that delayed. The sooner we recognize the beast before us the better off we will be.

Manzypanzy-can you call your father and find out? That his email is invalid is weird.

While I am nervous about all of the layoffs in the Janesville area, I will remain hopeful that things will improve. It will take time. Some of these negative comments are not helpful to those who have lost their jobs. Please keep in mind when one door closes often a bigger better door will open.

Bull honky... get the facts right!!!

62 at Hufcor as on monday this week. And it seemed safe there too. We knew in advance and some with seniority took the lay off so some of the lower ones got to stay. And it is going to get worse before it gets better. The last 8 years have given us nothing and I hope the next four show us something as we have nowhere else to look. There is no use blaming anyone as it isn't going to change a darn thing. The people of this falling economy need to quit complaining and blaming and band together and look for solutions!!!!

I just got an email from my father saying his LSS email address is no longer valid. I'm extremely nervous that he is one of those 50 people now. Does anyone know what positions got cut? This is terrible news for Janesville.

rooster - couldn't have said it better myself. Obama's cabinet is full of not just tax cheats, but incompetents that have no idea what to do. Obama may be a master orator, but campaigning is one thing . . . governing is another. His blaming all of our problems on the Bush administration is conveniently forgetting that the Democrats controlled the house for the last two years - when most of the economic damage was done. I am already tired of his bullying and fear mongering and soon even his supporters will be too. The worst case scenario I fear most is another terrorist attack while in the middle of a depression. How's that for change we can believe in?

All these layoffs will continue until the economy rebounds. I think that the stimulus package is just going to help companies stay afloat until things improve. I really don't think that it will stimulate the economy. Hopefully it will help to slow the layoffs so people can keep their jobs.

People aren't going to go out and spend like normal on extra things because of the worry about losing their jobs. I know I am not. With the situations at the companies that my wife and I work for I know that we are not going to go overboard with any extra spending. With companies like Alliant asking for rate hikes, more than likely from losing some of the bigger companies in the area, it is not good for anyone. Where would some of these people be if gas was still at 4 bucks a gallon, which I am sure will go up again soon.

This really stinks for all involved. I know a lot of people at LSS, GM, Lear and most of the other companies that have had layoffs lately. It is not good for anyone.

rooster thanks for you positive outlook on a administration that hasn't began to broken parts of our country that the Id0It that running our country into the ground before. Well written statement, not much substance. Must be a republican

the stimulus pkg is up to 1.5 trillion of money the us does not have. there is more democratic pork in that thing than the oscar meyer hog butchering facility in the quad cities. the pkg is so long and complicated that it can't be read. obama does not know what is in it. obama does not know anything which is why his cabinet looks like it could have come out of sing sing.he is a great speaker with little substance. a rapid river runs shallow, comes to mind. the greatest depression of the history of the united states looms on the horizon.

Sorry CHELS-1707. Sounds like the handled this very poorly.

dqandhallie,
Where in the heck have you been in the last 8 years? Did you just wake up on the 20th of January, 2009? If you had, then your whimsical post makes a little sense, I guess...

Oh yes, I know one IT guy at Lab Safety that would not be happy. Oh, and yeah, he's pretty awesome..... but not as awesome as me.

i was just laid off from lab. i had no clue about it. i am lost at when to do. they have been telling us we are fine and no one was being laid off. i feel like i just got stabbed in the back. they wouldnt even let me get my things. they told me and walked me out. i feel bad for everyone that they are stabbing in the back with this. i really thought i was safe there but turns out they like to stab ppl in the back and not tell anyone what is going on in the company when they say they are open with everything in the company with all the employees.

The days of "safe" employers has left us. The new stimulus package isn't going to help either.

I just hope this doesn't affect Lab's awesome IT staff

How can you blame Obama when he's been in office less than a month? Bush got us into this mess.
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So sorry for the LSS workers who are getting laid-off. It seemed like the one safe employer in town.

Thanks much Obama, how long before you get the rest of us in your unemployment line!!!!

Weeds

Does anybody know what kind of positions were eliminated and how long those people had been there?

People are already getting fired. Employees had to hear about it through Yahoo! news before LSS told them, and then even started walking people out before management even breathed a word of it. How disrespectful.

Heck yeah I'm nervous!!!!! YIKES! I truly had no fear of losing my job till about 30 mins ago!

Hmmmmm,I seem to remember when they announced the merger with Grainger the subject of layoffs came up and they seemed to give the employees the impression that layoffs would be unlikely. I bet people are getting nervous.