AM I NEXT? SPUDNIK EQUIPMENT COMPANY

Blackfoot, Idaho-based Spudnik Equipment Company, an agricultural machinery company specializing in potato, sugarbeet, and specialty vegetable equipment, has announced a reduction in force to match market conditions.

The reduction will impact 100 employees.

According to a company statement, "Spudnik Equipment Company is providing an update on changes to our operations and workforce. Over the past decade, we have grown significantly to meet customer demand and support the farmers who rely on our equipment. Recently, however, low commodity prices and rising input costs have created sustained challenges across agriculture, reducing purchasing activity and overall demand."

"Based on current conditions, we expect 2026 to remain difficult for the industry. In response, we are aligning production with demand by slowing factory output rather than building excess inventory or maintaining unused capacity. While production levels are being adjusted, our commitment to customer support remains strong. We will continue stocking our sales and service centers and work to reduce lead times for Spudnik-manufactured parts to help minimize customer downtime."

"To protect the long-term strength of the company, we must also reduce our workforce. This decision was not made lightly, and we recognize the impact on employees and their families. Our Human Resources team is available to assist affected employees with resume support, unemployment guidance, and benefits transitions."

"We are grateful to our employees, customers, and the community for their continued trust since 1958. Spudnik remains committed to agriculture and to positioning the company for a sustainable future."

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 CREE LIGHTING

Racine, Wisconsin-based Cree Lighting, a developer and manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting for commercial, industrial, and outdoor applications, has announced a major restructuring and the winding down of manufacturing operations at its 650,000-square-foot Sturtevant facility, although the company itself will continue operating with limited functions, includingR&D, engineering, sales, marketing, finance, quality control, and a pilot manufacturing operation at the site.

The closure has affected 172 employees.

According to a company statement, "With the implementation – and now acceleration – of the Cree Lighting strategic restructuring, the company continues to work on fulfilling its substantial backlog of orders as well as process new orders. While we are closing the manufacturing unit in Racine, with the exception of maintaining a pilot operation, we will continue to operate certain business functions at the Racine facility, including, but not limited to, R&D, engineering, sales and marketing, finance, and quality control.

We are honored and excited that our customers have remained confident in Cree Lighting’s ability to continue to reliably provide the quality products that Cree Lighting is known for.

We expect to be able to share more insights in the coming few weeks."

The financially-challenged company has experienced supply chain constraints and limited manufacturing capacity related to its ongoing financial restructuring. In response, the company has taken decisive action to strengthen its operational foundation and restore service levels for customers by announcing a long-term contract manufacturing agreement with a highly regarded U.S. lighting manufacturer specializing in industrial and harsh environment applications.

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 SK BATTERY AMERICA

Commerce, Georgia-based SK Battery America, a subsidiary of SK On that produces high-energy-density lithium-ion battery cells for major automotive partners, has announced a major reduction in force at its Commerce plant.

The reduction impacted 958 employees.

According to a company statement, "To align operations to market conditions, SK Battery America has made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce. We appreciate employees' contributions and will work with those affected during this transition. SK Battery America remains committed to Georgia and to building a robust U.S. supply chain for advanced battery manufacturing. We are pursuing a range of future customers, including the Battery Energy Storage System arena."

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?