KIVITV.COM | Boise. News, Breaking News, Weather and Sports-Boise Hewlett-Packard Layoffs Underway
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A spokesman for Hewlett-Packard confirms that layoffs first announced in June of 2008 at Boise's Imaging and Printing Group Plant are progressing. (See clip of June 19th story about layoff announcement on left)
Sources inside H-P say they began Monday morning. As 'Today's 6 News' first reported back in June, the number of those losing their jobs are believed to be in the hundreds although it could take time for the true number to be known. The spokesman could confirm that number, but did issue the following statement to 'Today's 6 News.'
"The realignment of IPG's business entails shifting resources from slower growing businesses to new business opportunities. In some cases, parts of IPG's business will experience reductions while investments will be made in high growth segments of the business," said Scott Stalla of HP Media Relations. That includes reducing the number of business units from 5-to-3, reducing the number of employees.
Sources inside HP's Boise plant say layoffs began with group meetings with managers this morning and progressing throughout the day. Sources say many people who do contract work for HP in Boise have also lost or will lose their jobs.
The restructuring was originally supposed to take place August 1st but was delayed for unknown reasons. An internal memo sent to employees in June said the reorganization was necessary as the company continues to shift from a printer company to a printing company.
The Idaho Department of Commerce says it has not been notified of any impending layoffs at the Boise plant as required by federal law when more than 50 employees are involved. That requirement can be circumvented, however, if adequate severance is being offered as happened when Micron laid off more than 1000 employees last July.
The layoffs are part of a plan to increase profitability at H.P. in what the company calls "Print 2.0." Job losses within the Imaging and Printing Group that includes Boise reportedly began at the company's Corvallis, Oregon plant last week as reported in the Corvallis Gazette-Times, which reported an estimated 300 people will be laid off there. As with Boise, company officials will not confirm any hard numbers of jobs lost.
