Grainger to lay off 50 here
JANESVILLE — W.W. Grainger said Wednesday it will lay off as many as 400 employees—including 50 in Janesville—as a result of a 9 percent drop in January sales and a bleak outlook for the remainder of the year.
Grainger owns Lab Safety Supply, which employs about 950 in Janesville.
Grainger spokesman Robb Kristopher said the laid-off employees will receive a severance package plus benefit coverage and outplacement services.
"We value our people and want to see that they're taken care of," Kristopher said.
In addition to the layoffs, Grainger will cut hours of part-time workers, eliminate merit increases for executives and salaried employees, reduce travel and relocation expenses and will not fill open positions.
In an effort to prop up Lab Safety Supply, Grainger officials announced in November they would combine their Lab Safety and Grainger Industrial Supply businesses.
While it doesn't manufacture anything, Lab Safety markets and distributes safety and other products to more than 800,000 customers in North America through catalogs, flyers and Web sites targeted to niche markets.
The company is a subsidiary of Grainger, which supplies facilities maintenance products to businesses and institutions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Panama through 600 branches, 18 distribution centers and multiple Web sites.
Officials said combining the two businesses would allow Lab Safety and Grainger Industrial Supply to have one product line, one supply chain, one e-commerce operation, one catalog operation and one sales force, he said.
Kristopher said Wednesday's layoff announcement was primarily the result of poor sales in January rather than a combination of the two businesses.
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.
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opinions I feel for you why should we have to pay more in taxes. yes im complaining about paying more taxes not about having a job just losing more of my money to a screwed up government
Feb 16, 2009 at 8:34 a.m.
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This one? Check under Blogs next time.
http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/lates...
Feb 16, 2009 at 8:18 a.m.
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opinion80, what are you talking about? You posted to the article, but you're complaining that it disappeared? Or are you referring to the one that had been posted in the "latest news" section at the top of the web page? Those articles always expire from the latest news section as more recent articles get posted there. No impartiality on the part of the gazette; it just became old news.
Feb 16, 2009 at 7:42 a.m.
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Funny how the article posted about LSS laying off 50 people seems to have just disappeared from this website. Who at Grainger/LSS is paying the Gazette off to make things disappear? That's real impartial reporting folks! Thanks for showing your true colors.
Feb 12, 2009 at 6:02 p.m.
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"The writing was on the wall when Grainger announced in November they were combining Lab and Grainger Industrial Supplies"
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I said the same thing. Nonetheless, back then people working at Lab insisted management was insuring them everything was "fine." Those who have already seen this type of thing thought differently. I stated that people should prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Now isn't a good time to drudge up should haves or could haves I suppose. I feel for those being laid off under such lousy economic conditions. Having been laid off since July, I know all too well how bad the job market is right now. I wish the best to all those affected by these layoffs. Hopefully this will be the only layoffs from Lab.
Feb 12, 2009 at 1:49 p.m.
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Opinions for free, I cant believe your complaining about having a job and paying taxes. Lets not forget that those people that dont have jobs, but have homes still have to pay taxes. If paying taxes is such a burden for you, maybe you should quite your job and make it available to someone that wont complain!!!
Feb 12, 2009 at 1:05 p.m.
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The writing was on the wall when Grainger announced in November they were combining Lab and Grainger Industrial Supplies
Feb 12, 2009 at 11:48 a.m.
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Opinionsforfree: At least you have a job. Good luck to those now joining the unemployment line.
Feb 12, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.
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people like me who have a job without any kids will get taxed to hell
Feb 12, 2009 at 10:52 a.m.
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a key depressing line is "the rest of the year." folks, its february, the rest of the year is 10 months long. the unemployment swells in janesville. who is going to pay for the gyms now???
Feb 12, 2009 at 9:38 a.m.
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Lab people be prepared for another round of lay offs April 1st or before!
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