Inside INdiana Business is reporting that Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is reducing workforce at the Walmart Optical Lab in Crawfordsville. In a notice to the state, the company said 108 employees will be out of work by the end of September. A corporate spokeswoman told Inside INdiana Business the decision was a response to “changing business needs.” Erin Hulliberger added “we are making adjustments at our Walmart Optical Labs in Crawfordsville to help ensure we have the right people in the right place at the right time.” She said the company hopes to help many displaced workers find other roles with Walmart or Sam’s Club stores.
“We care deeply about our associates impacted by this decision and our priority is to take care of them,” Hullinberger said. “We are holding career fairs and job interview and resume writing workshops to assist associates interested in taking advantage of new opportunities with the company.”
Walmart says the affected employees will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other locations. Those that are not able to do so will be offered severance pay. The layoffs are expected to be permanent.
The announcement follows the closure of the Walmart store in Rushville, which affected 95 jobs. However, the company also announced $24 million in improvements to several Indiana stores and also recently opened its 250,000-square-foot milk processing plant in Fort Wayne.