Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; after three years the website The Toast will cease new postings by July.  The owners revealed they’ve been discussing shutting it down altogether for the past six months.  They also admitted it’s actually difficult to finance such a website.

California: Despite Kroger’s claim that they plan to hire 14-thousand people this year, and after Kroger issued a shutdown WARN for their Indian Wells Ralphs grocery store, local news reports say the Rialto Ralphs is also being shutdown.  A spokesman for Ralphs said the “The store had been significantly under-performing for many years” and will shutdown by June.   57 years old Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena shutdown, supposedly it’s being replaced by a $250-million USD project.

 

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Mountain View based software company Symantec announced a restructuring plan that will eliminate 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs and shutdown some operations!

Florida: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Saint Leo University system from eliminating 30 jobs due to “restructuring”. Interestingly local news reports say administrators claim they’re actually creating new jobs.

Idaho: The Idaho Technology Council reports that from 2014 to 2015  business investments into The Gem State tripled ($3.47 billion to $16.29 billion)!  However, when you break it down by region all the big increases in investments went to the Boise area (aka southern sector of the state), north and east sectors saw little change in investments.  And 60% went to the service sector (retail).

New Jersey: Paterson School District eliminating 80 office jobs, and considering shutting down four schools.

New York: That which cannot be named powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘its’ Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center.  The Villager reports that three nurses are blowing the whistle on plans to shutdown the hospital, which has survived The Great Depression and numerous recessions.  Administrators had been talking about renovations, but three months ago that talk stopped and now some nurses are being offered transfers elsewhere.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; 3D printer maker MakerBot issued a layoff WARN for their Brooklyn location, at least 80 people jobless by mid-July.  After ten years Northeast Kingdom restaurant shutting down by the end of the month, the owners are focusing on their upstate farm.

Ohio: The Top Ohio Pet Shelter in Logan County shutting down due to massive debt, more than 60 dogs and cats threatened. Administrators say they get only $7-thousand USD from the county every month, which is not enough to cover all expenses, and commissioners refuse to give anymore.   Despite surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions, Gearhart’s Hardware Store shutting down saying the economy is not recovering: “It’s just that people are not buying. It just seems like the economy hit us hard on this side of town. I just don’t have anything left. I’m basically broke. I’m going to have to file for bankruptcy.”-David Miller, owner

Pennsylvania: Camden School District eliminating 154 jobs due to a $39-million USD budget shortfall!   Despite surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions, Radnor based oil drilling company Penn Virginia now bankrupt busted with $1.4-billion in debts!  In Lebanon, after 31 years American Home Video shutting down. The owners tried everything to beat the competition including selling non-video items, then they tried selling the property but nobody wants it: “It was costing us more to keep it open. We’re just ready to get rid of it. It’s a good location, but there’s just no interest in it so far.”-Darlene Springborn

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Austin based video game maker Wizard101-KingIsle Entertainment revealed they laid off an undisclosed number of employees, after canceling the release of some new smart phone video games.  In Cypress, reports say eT Craft Burgers and Beer suddenly shutdown, even their social media site is gone.

Washington: In Pasco, CRF Frozen Foods suddenly shutdown, 250 jobs on hold!  Administrators claim the shutdown is temporary due to the listeria outbreak connected to its products.  In Bellingham, Cozy Corner Books & Coffee shutting down tomorrow, due to not being able to renew the lease.

Wyoming: Due to the continued mining/oil industry layoffs, Wyoming Machinery laid off an undisclosed number of employees, without warning.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification. I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”