Southern Indiana Business Report
WASHINGTON – Perdue Farms informed the state that it will eliminate its second shift production line at its Washington facility, affecting nearly 300 employees.
In its notice to the state, Perdue indicated the mass layoff is expected to be permanent. Employees’ last day of work will be Oct. 10. Employees who are not terminated for cause or don’t leave voluntarily before their last work date will receive pay and benefits through their separation date, Nov. 2 representing another 23-day period following their last work date.
A statement from Perdue said the layoffs are the result of changes in consumer demand, decreasing turkey flocks and the need to have one production shift in order to achieve operational efficiencies.
Perdue is one of the larger employers in Washington.
Region 8 of WorkOne, Indiana’s employment services office, will be providing Rapid Response Orientations for the affected workers in late September to early October to provide information regarding WorkOne services and other community resources.
Region 8 is also in the process of working with regional employers and employers from surrounding counties to participate in career and resource fairs in an effort to transition these individuals to new job opportunities.
“It is a concern of what impact it will have moving forward for the City of Washington,” said Washington Mayor David Rhoads. “Moving forward I will continue working closely with Perdue management.”
The WARN notice was filed with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development Sept. 3.
The affected employees are not members of a union and will not have the ability to displace more junior employees out of their job positions at this or other locations as a result of this mass layoff.