Another US company, this time the iconic clothing brand L.L. Bean, has declared a round of lay-offs this month.
L.L. Bean Layoffs Confirmed
Classic American clothing brand L.L. Bean has confirmed incoming worker layoffs and reductions in call center hours, citing the upswing of online shopping as the main driver.
Customer Contact on the Decline
“As more of our customers choose self-service and shop through our digital and retail channels, customer contacts have declined over the last four years,” they announced in an official statement this week.
Call Center Reductions
The company plans to reduce its customer support call center hours by four hours, moving from a 7 am to 11 pm timeframe to 8 am to 8 pm. It’s a sharp drop-off from its current 16-hour customer service call window.
New Schedule Opens in July
The new service window will begin operation on July 15. Due to the significant reduction in shift hours, the brand will no longer need as many customer service staff for their call centers.
The Brand “Must Adapt”
L.L. Bean representatives justified the decision in their public statement, clarifying that they “must adapt” to the new ways that most consumers choose to shop.
“Not Influenced by Business Conditions”
They described the decision as purely a strategic move, that was not influenced by “business conditions or part of a larger workforce reduction.”
Too Many Online Orders
According to the company, 90% of website and phone orders are placed online, and 90% of all calls happen between 8 am and 8 pm, so the 16-hour window no longer makes practical sense.
No Numbers Yet
So far the clothing chain has not specified how many customer service roles will be cut. It currently has more than 500 employees on its call center payroll who work both at the company headquarters in Maine and remotely across the country.
Severance Will Be Provided
L.L Bean does plan to provide severance packages and other leaving benefits to affected employees who are eligible.
Not a Decision Made Lightly
“Impacting people’s jobs and schedules is never a decision L.L.Bean makes lightly,” the statement confirmed. “We will be offering impacted employees’ severance, outplacement services and, for those who are eligible, company retiree benefits.”
Spokesperson Confirms
Jason Sulham, an L.L. Bean spokesperson told news outlets that they were still unsure when more details, as well as an approximate number of staff cuts, would be released.
Still Working Through the Details
“We don’t have an exact number yet as we are working to manage through severance-eligible voluntary departures and retirements with company benefits,” he said. “This was just announced internally at the end of last week so it will be some time before we feel confident in providing numbers.”
In-Person Shopping Still Important
Sulham also claimed that the company still intended to cater to the “in-person shopping experience,” despite a surging trend in online shopping.
Four New Stores
“We are actually planning on opening four stores this year and continue to invest in retail expansion, bringing the unique L.L. Bean in-person shopping experience to more of our customers,” he confirmed.
Another Round of Layoffs
It is not the first time that the company has been hit by layoffs in recent years. 200 staffers were also let go back in 2020. A Lewiston call center was also closed in 2021.
A Big Deal in Maine
L.L Bean has been a major employer in Maine for decades, particularly in the city of Freeport where it has its company headquarters.
Operating Since 1912
The retail company, which specializes in clothing and outdoor recreational equipment, has been operating out of Freeport since 1912. It currently operates 54 outlets across the US and Canada.
Department of Labor Speaks
Despite the ambiguity around specific job losses, Maine Department of Labor spokesperson Jessica Picard has confirmed that the department has contacted L.L Bean and urged them to provide employees with further information.
Reach Out to CareerCenter
“Any workers statewide who are impacted by a layoff should reach out to their local CareerCenter, which can help connect them to reemployment services, training, and other information,” she said in a public statement.
Contact Details
Affected employees in Maine can contact CareerCenter via email at [email protected], by calling 207-623-7981, or by using the LiveChat service on MaineCareerCenter.gov.
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