AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY

Grand Prairie, Texas-based Republic National Distributing Company, the second-largest beverage alcohol distributor of premium wine and spirits in the United States, has announced that it will close its California operations after losing the distribution rights for several iconic brand names. Additionally, the company cited rising costs of doing business in the state.

The closure will affect 1,756 employees, and it is scheduled to take place after September 2, 2025. Over 2,500 drinks brands are now seeking a new wholesaler and distributor in the state

Interim CEO Bob Hendrickson said, “This decision is driven by rising operational costs, industry headwinds, and supplier changes that made the market unsustainable. We’ve made the difficult business decision to withdraw from California, which affects many of the roles in the state. We are complying with all regulatory obligations and are committed to handling every transition thoughtfully and smoothly and ensuring everyone is treated fairly and respectfully. We are grateful for the support of these employees and will do our best to support them during this time.”

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. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible 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. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SYSTEM

Austin, Texas-based Austin Independent School District, an educational system that operates 116 schools, including 78 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, and 17 high schools, is continuing with its restructuring initiative, which includes a 20% reduction in its central office staff.

The reduction will impact 170+ employees.

According to Superintendent Matias Segura...

Dear Austin ISD family,

Today was a difficult day as I notified our Central Staff of our reorganization. This restructure was necessary to align our administrative functions and reduce administrative costs while acknowledging the size of our district and our current needs.

We educate 73,000 students and every single person in this organization plays a role in their educational experience. The impact of this restructure and every individual affected will be felt.

However, as we work to close our budget deficit, this was a critical step before moving forward with any campus consolidations. Overall, more than 170 employees were impacted by these reductions, including position elimination, reduction in salary and/or reorganization. In total, these changes reflect a more than 20% reduction to Central Office staffing — an approximate savings of $9.6 million.

I recognize this is a very challenging time for our community and I encourage every student, staff and family member within Austin ISD to navigate this with empathy. This restructuring is only one step in a series of difficult conversations and decisions that must be made to ensure our district remains stable and we can maintain our ability to offer the highest quality education.

We are a strong community with strong schools and I know we’ll get through this together. I am confident that we have the commitment and knowledge within our district to create a future for Austin ISD that preserves our values and ultimately supports our greatest asset – our students.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Matias Segura, PE, MBA; Superintendent, Austin ISD

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. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible 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. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT PRIME HEALTHCARE

Ontario, California-based Prime Healthcare, a for-profit healthcare holding company that operates 51 hospitals in 14 states, has announced a reduction in force across multiple hospitals and clinics.

The reduction will impact 100 employees and 100 jobs across its recently acquired eight hospital sites and clinics in the Chicago, Illinois area.

According to a Prime spokesperson, “As we continue to offer and create opportunities, we are also evaluating alignment with best practices and support from our national and regional teams. Through this process, there is a small number of positions that are duplicated or not aligned with the care model and service line offerings — most of them not directly providing patient care — that will be consolidated.”

“Importantly, these efforts will not affect the quality of care we deliver to the communities we serve and in fact will help expand best practices from across the nation. All decisions made at our Illinois facilities are guided by our mission to improve quality, strengthen care delivery, preserve access in underserved areas, and ensure long-term sustainability.”

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. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible 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. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?