Florida Hit Hard With 425 Job Losses Over The Last Week Of July 2024 and August 1st Alone

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When I write articles about job losses in Florida, it's not lost on me that each of those jobs includes real people and families whose lives will be significantly altered. As a result, hardship sometimes follows. Unfortunately, during the last week of July 2024 and on August 1st, Florida lost over 400 jobs.

The Warn Notices: The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires that Florida employees provide 60 days' notice before plant closings or mass layoffs. In general, companies with 100 full-time employees are covered.

The Warn Notices During The Last Week Of July 2024: The following companies filed Warn notices in the last week of July:

W.S. Badcock Corporation: English immigrant Henry Stanhope Badcock founded W.S. Badcock Corporation in 1904. Although there are now 300 Badcock stores in the nation, the company was purchased by Conn's in late 2023 and filed for bankruptcy in July 2024.

In a warn letter dated July 24, 2024, the company shared that it intends to close its corporate office in Mulberry The closure will be permanent and affect 101 employees.

Lutheran Services Of Florida: This organization began in 1982. Today, it has 1200 employees that serve Floridians from all walks of life.

According to a warn letter dated August 1, 2024, the organization is expected to lay off around 150 employees due to "significantly reduced" funding from Florida’s Department of Children and Families.

Winn Dixie: By now, many Floridians are aware that their local Winn Dixie could become an Aldi due to Aldi's purchase of 400 Winn Dixie stores. And now, a Warn letter seems to confirm a conversion as well as the laying off of dozens of Winn Dixie employees.

In a Warn letter dated July 29, 2024, Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn Dixie, indicated that due to the closure of a Lakeland on South Florida Avenue, all 48 employees of the store would be laid off.

The letter states that the store is expected to reopen as an Aldi in four to six months and the affected employees are eligible to apply at the new Aldi.

Volusia Tolling Program: TTEC Government Solutions will be ceasing operations for its Volusia Tolling Program. As a result, 126 employees (mostly toll collectors in Daytona Beach) will be laid off in September 2024.