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PotashCorp to Layoff 150

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The odds are pretty good that unless you have worked in the farming industry for the last couple of years then you have not heard about PotashCorp. For the rest of us, who have not had a need for their products thus far, here is a look at how the company describes itself, “PotashCorp is the world’s largest fertilizer company by capacity, producing the three primary crop nutrients – potash (K), phosphate (P) and nitrogen (N). As the world’s leading potash producer, we are responsible for about 20 percent of global capacity. With operations and business interests in seven countries, PotashCorp is an international enterprise and a key player in meeting the growing challenge of feeding the world.”

Well apparently the company believes that they can help to feed the world without some of its workers. The company is getting ready to cut back on a significant number of its workers in order to cut back on their operating expenses. The company is going to cut back on about 15 percent of the workers they currently employ, which means that about 150 of the workers are going to be out of a job in the near future.

On the bright side since the company is laying off so many workers at once they will have to give the workers some extra notice. This is because the layoff action planned will qualify as a mass layoff action and that means special guidelines must be followed. For those of you who are not familiar with the idea of a mass layoff action here is a look at how the federal government defines the term, “…mass layoff numbers are from establishments which have at least 50 initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) filed against them during a 5-week period. Extended mass layoff numbers (issued quarterly) are from a subset of such establishments—where private sector nonfarm employers indicate that 50 or more workers were separated from their jobs for at least 31 days.” Because of the mass layoff action the workers are entitled to some extra notice, in order to give the workers time to prepare both personally and as a community for the loss of income to the local area.

The layoff notices were sent out by PCS Phosphate, the parent company of PotashCorp on Monday in order to help the company cut back on its operating costs. That having been said the layoffs will not actually go into effect until the 30th of June, giving the workers just over one month before they have to either have another job or begin the process of filing for unemployment in their state. Though in the current economy the likelihood of all of the 150 workers finding new positions before they are out of a job is very unlikely. This time may, in reality, give the workers some time to get their resumes out there.

Workers will be offered a voluntary separation package before the final layoff notices go out. The company did not give out any details about the terms of the package.

PotashCorp to Layoff 150 by
Authored by: Harrison Barnes