A Wisconsin company is laying off thousands of workers

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Mercury Marine is laying off around 1,700 hourly employees in Fond du Lac, according to a spokesperson. The company is hitting the brakes with “short-term layoffs,” which will see workers lose eight weeks of work, split into two-week chunks. This move has certainly caught many by surprise.

NBC 26 reports that the announcement has left employees feeling anxious and uncertain about their futures. The layoffs come after Mercury Marine already cut over 400 jobs earlier this year. For those affected, the timing couldn’t be worse, with the loss of pay having a significant impact on their budgets.

One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, shared how the layoffs are affecting him personally. "It’s really going to cut into a lot of people’s budgets," he said. “Some friends are worried about falling behind on child support because of the reduced income.” Even with unemployment benefits, which only cover about half of his regular paycheck, he's finding it hard to make ends meet. He’s on the hunt for another job, but finding something that matches Mercury Marine’s pay and is close to Fond du Lac is proving to be a challenge.

Mercury Marine’s spokesperson, Lee Gordon, offered some insight, saying, “Mercury continues to grow market share around the world and still employs thousands of people in Wisconsin. But right now, it’s not sufficient to fully offset the overall market headwinds.”

So, while Mercury Marine remains a major player in the industry, it seems they're having to navigate some choppy waters. What are your thoughts on these layoffs and their impact? Share your opinions below.