AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT STRYKER (10/04/24)

NOVEMBER 21, 2024 —

Stryker Sustainability Solutions has reaffirmed that it is planning to close its Lakeland facility in Florida by 2026, resulting in the elimination of 523 jobs,

OCTOBER 4, 2024 — STILL OPEN WITH LAYOFFS SCHEDULED THROUGH 2026

The company announced that its Lakeland, Florida, originally scheduled to close in 2023, is still open, and the company plans to eliminate another 260 positions on a rolling basis by Dec. 31, 2026, the new anticipated closure date for the Lakeland plant.

MAY 13, 2023 — 500 EMPLOYEES IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA FACILITY CLOSURE

Update: The company has notified the State of Florida that it will lay off more than 500 employees by the end of December 31, 2023, as it closes its Lakeland, Florida facility,

Operations will be transferred to Stryker facilities in Arizona and Mexico.

According to a company spokesperson, “After a careful and detailed analysis, we have decided to close our Lakeland, Florida, facility and move these operations to other Stryker locations. This is a multi-year initiative and we estimate fully closing this facility by the end of 2023.

Stryker constantly evaluates our business to ensure our resources are aligned to drive growth, serve our customers and increase operating efficiencies in a complex global environment.”

APRIL 11, 2022 — 88 LAYOFFS IN LAKELAND. FLORIDA.

In preparation for the closure of its Lakeland, Florida plant by December 2023, the company will lay off 88 employees by the end of May 2022.

According to a company spokesperson, the remaining 385 job cuts are expected on a rolling basis by Dec. 31, 2023.

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 —Original post…

Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Stryker, the iconic manufacturer of medical devices, orthopedic implants, surgical equipment, neurovascular products, patient handling, and emergency medical equipment, has announced the closure of its Lakeland, Florida facility with the permanent layoff of 523 employees.

According to the company, Layoffs will commence with 26 layoffs by December 31, 2021, and a phased layoff program of 497 employees will take place by December 31, 2023.

A company spokesperson noted, "Stryker constantly evaluates our business to ensure our resources are aligned to drive growth, serve our customers and increase operating efficiencies in a complex global environment. After a careful and detailed analysis, we have decided to close our Lakeland, Florida, facility and move these operations to other Stryker locations."

The Lakeland location is home to Stryker's Sustainability Solutions operations, a provider of reprocessing and remanufacturing services for single-use medical devices. Reprocessing of single-use medical devices (SUDs) is the practice of inspecting, cleaning, function testing, sterilizing, and packaging so that they can be clinically and safely used again.

While no specifics are forthcoming, it is believed that operations will be relocated to Stryker's Sustainability Solutions operations in Tempe, Arizona.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT ABBOTT LABORATORIES

Am I Next? Abbott Labs layoffs — reduction in Covid-19 mask production.

Abbott Park, Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories, a multinational maker of medical devices diagnostics, branded generic medicines and nutritional products, has announced a major reduction in force in the State of Maine.

400+ employees will be impacted in two locations in Westbrook, Maine (310 employees) and Scarborough, Maine (100+).

According to a company spokesperson, "We’ve recently seen a significant, rapid decline in COVID-19 testing demand and anticipate this trend will continue. Because of this, we are reducing our workforce that produces rapid tests in Westbrook and Scarborough. These sites will continue to play an important role in manufacturing tests for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases around the world. We’re grateful for the contributions our workers in Maine made to our country during the pandemic."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT PREMIUM-PPE

Am I Next? Business decline at Premium-PPE.

Virginia Beach, Virginia-based Premium-PPE, a entrepreneurial pop-up manufactuer of personal protective masks in response to the COVID-19, is suffering from a drastic change in the demand for post-pandemic ppe masks and increased foreign competition.

In February 2021, the company was producing up to a million masks a day. Now, in four months, production has dropped to 10%-20% of that capacity necessitating the layoff of 200 employees.

According to the company's managing partner Brent Dillie. "China's imports are coming in and undercutting products like ours, American-made products. Masks are being sold for a penny or less than a penny in some cases."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?