Macys to Furlough Most Workers Amid Pandemic

Macys to Furlough Most Workers Amid Pandemic

Department store Macys announced it will furlough most of its workers as stores remain shut amid the..

Department store Macys announced it will furlough most of its workers as stores remain shut amid the global pandemic.

The department store chain shut down all locations on March 18 but continued its digital operations. It, however, has lost most of its sales amid the closures, the firm said in a statement.

“While these actions have helped, it is not enough,” the company said on Monday. “Across Macys, Bloomingdales, and Bluemercury brands, we will be moving to the absolute minimum workforce needed to maintain basic operations.”

State and local officials have implemented measures to close all nonessential businesses to mitigate the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a type of coronavirus originating from China that causes the disease COVID-19 and has triggered a global pandemic. Macys and malls that include the popular clothing store have not been spared.

“This means the majority of our colleagues will go on furlough beginning this week,” the company added. “There will be fewer furloughs in our digital business, supporting distribution centers and call centers so we can continue to serve our customers online.”

Macys workers who are enrolled in the firms health benefits plan will continue to be covered. Macys will pay 100 percent of the premium until at least May, the statement said.

Epoch Times Photo
Medical workers at Kaiser Permanente French Campus test a patient for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, at a drive-thru testing facility in San Francisco, California (JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, Macys has about 130,000 full-time and part-time employees in the United States.

Other industries have also been affected by closures, similarly announcing layoffs or furloughs, including Hyatt Hotels and Marriott Hotels.

“Given the financial impact on our business, we have had to make difficult decisions that both support the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and guests, and protect long-term prospects for Hyatt,” Hyatt Read More – Source

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