AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

Lake Forest, Illinois-based Packaging Corporation of America, a manufacturer of packaging materials and containers, has announced a restructuring that will result in the permanent shutdown of its No. 2 paper machine and kraft pulping facilities at its Wallula, Washington, mill.

The shutdown will impact 200 employees with layoffs commencing on February 9, 2026.

According to Chairman and CEO Mark Kowlzan, “We recognize the impact of decisions like this on our employees and will provide support through this process. We greatly appreciate their efforts and our decision is not a reflection on their performance. We are taking these steps to support the future viability of the mill and improve our efficiency and cost position, while continuing to invest in our future growth."

"We face a challenging and worsening cost environment at the Wallula mill. Wood fiber and purchased power costs are by far the highest in our system, making the currently configured mill no longer competitive. By operating as a single-machine, recycled mill, we will streamline operations at the facility and significantly lower our cost of production, while continuing to produce high quality containerboard for our plants and customers. We have significantly invested in the W3 machine and its capabilities after we converted it to containerboard in 2018. Moving some production to lower-cost PCA facilities where we are investing in production improvements will further optimize our mill system, resulting in even greater efficiencies.”

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of 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, at any time, 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 WOOD GROUP

Dubai-based Sidara, an international consulting company offering engineering, architecture, planning, environmental consulting, project and construction management services, announced a restructuring that affects Houston, Texas-based Wood Group, which has announced a reduction in force.

The reduction in force will affect 180 employees, mostly in white-collar roles, in Freeport, Texas, after a client ended a nest maintenance program, affecting Wood Group's engineering consulting services.

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of 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, at any time, 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 OMNICOM GROUP

New York City, New York-based Omnicom Group, a global media, marketing, and corporate communications holding company, has announced a post-merger restructuring and reduction in force after completing its $13.5 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group.

The restructuring will impact 4,000 employees. The job cuts are in addition to the 3,200 roles IPG shed this year ahead of the acquisition, and the 3,000 staffers Omnicom let go after announcing the deal last fall. Layoffs are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

According to Chairman and CEO John Wren, "The expertise and dedication of our leadership team and the promise of our Connected Capabilities make us uniquely positioned to turn this moment into a catalyst for intelligent growth – for our people, our clients, and our shareholders. I am proud to welcome the people, agencies and clients of Interpublic to Omnicom and create a global community of the best and brightest professionals in the industry, all of whom will have access to the most advanced AI tools and Omni, our advanced intelligence platform. Together, we will be the go-to company that shapes how brands grow, people connect, and culture evolves."

The restructuring will allow us to achieve and exceed the synergies we promised the marketplace last December. This will bring the total number of eliminated positions to around 10,000, or roughly 8% of the combined organization’s 2024 headcount.

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of 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, at any time, 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?