L.L. Bean is temporarily laying off 150 of its 200 employees working at its call center in Bangor, Maine, beginning in May. The retailer and cataloguer told Banger Daily News that this is typically a slow time of year, but it is even slower due to the struggling economy.
“They will remain active employees with seniority and all benefits,” L.L. Bean spokeswoman Carolyn Beem, told the Maine newspaper. “Hopefully, we'll be able to reassess in the summer and bring them all back.”
L.L. Bean operates four call centers in Maine. The Bangor office was chosen over the others – in Portland, Lewiston and Waterville – because Bangor was the newest call center to go online, according to Beem.
In mid-March, L.L. Bean reported that sales fell 7.8% in 2008 to $1.5 billion, and also warned that it expected sales to be down in 2009 as well. The company said layoffs would be necessary this year, but company President and CEO Chris McCormick said in a memo to employees that he remains “cautiously optimistic” that the previously-announced voluntary retirement incentives will reduce the scope of layoffs in 2009.
In mid-March, L.L. Bean reported that sales fell 7.8% in 2008 to $1.5 billion, and also warned that it expected sales to be down in 2009 as well. The company said layoffs would be necessary this year, but company President and CEO Chris McCormick said in a memo to employees that he remains “cautiously optimistic” that the previously-announced voluntary retirement incentives will reduce the scope of layoffs in 2009.
In late January, L.L. Bean said it was freezing all wages and salaries for its 5,500 employees for the coming year due to slumping sales. The company also offered early retirement incentives to all employees who are 55 or older and have been with the company for five or more years. The program was to be offered at the end of February through early April.
