United Furnishings Industries instantly lays off all staff in a single day, OTR drivers ordered to cease deliveries

United Furnishings Industries (UFI) and subsidiary Lane Furnishings reportedly terminated all the firm’s staff late Monday night time.

In response to reporting from WXII 12 Information, UFI despatched staff messages round midnight telling them to not report back to work on Tuesday, November 22.

A separate memo obtained by the outlet stated that each one staff have been instantly terminated aside from the corporate’s OTR drivers who have been out on supply.

From the memo:

“On the instruction of the Board of Administrators of United Furnishings Industries, Inc., and all subsidiaries (the “Firm”), we remorse to tell you that as a consequence of unexpected enterprise circumstances the Firm has been pressured to make the troublesome resolution to terminate the employment of all its staff, efficient instantly, on November 21, 2022, excluding over-the-road drivers which can be out on supply. Your layoff from the Firm is anticipated to be everlasting and all advantages can be terminated instantly with out provision of COBRA.“

The memo instructed these drivers that they might be paid for the week and gave directions to return gear to the corporate:

“Whether or not or not you’ve accomplished your supply, please instantly return gear, stock, and supply paperwork for these deliveries which have been accomplished to one of many following areas: Winston-Salem, NC, Verona, MS, or Victorville, CA location. To be clear, don’t full any extra deliveries.“

The layoffs are anticipated to be everlasting, and staff have been reportedly notified by way of textual content or e-mail.

“We remorse that this troublesome and surprising scenario has made this crucial. Further info can be supplied shortly,” UFI stated.

UFI Transportation was based in 2005 with 20 vans and 50 trailers and grew to a fleet of about 200 vans and 700 trailers, in accordance with the corporate web site. The corporate acquired Lane Furnishings in 2017. Over the summer time of 2022, UFI fired its CEO, CFO and government vice chairman of gross sales and laid off about 300 staff.

UFI has areas in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Tupelo, Mississippi; and Victorville, California.

It is a growing story.