The Sports Authority has filed papers twice in the last few weeks with the Florida state Agency for Workforce Innovation outlining their plans for workforce terminations at their Lauderdale Lakes facility. The filings indicate that close to 500 people will lose their jobs with TSA as a result of its merger with Gart Sports.
As previously reported, the merger deal is expected to close pending a shareholder vote on 8/4 (SEW 0326).
In its letter to the agency, the company said a two-week round of layoffs would begin August 26, 2003 and said it plans to conduct layoffs over several months in connection with closing its headquarters.
“Weve called [company officials] to set up a meeting to make a presentation to workers,” said an agency official in a report in a local paper. He said the presentation will include information on how to apply for unemployment benefits and what resources are available at WorkForce One to help laid-off workers find new jobs.
The list of lay-offs included the CEO and chairman position held by Marty Hanaka, who will be chairman of the new merged entity in Denver. The finance department was the hardest hit, with 78 positions slated for termination. The advertising group will lose 19 jobs and 10 positions in the catalog group will disappear. Fifteen team associates are set to laid off as will three graphic artists and one copywriter.
The notice does not mean that all workers will be leaving in August, stressed Vice President of Human Resources Rosanne Mathews in the report. Fifty people are slated to go in the first round, with the complete shutdown expected early next year.
Mathews said about 170 people have interviewed for jobs in Denver, but she was not able to confirm the number of positions available there. Mathews will not be going to Denver.
All terminated employees will get at least 60 days notice from the company.
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