Huntsman cuts 1,175 jobs, closes plant (and Williams Sonoma lays off 1,400)

[Pale Blue Dot]

Source: Houston Chronicle

Chemical maker Huntsman says it will slash 1,175 jobs by the end of 2009, representing more than 9 percent of its work force, in effort to reduce costs as demand slows amid the global economic downturn.

The company also plans to cut an additional 490 contractors. Together, these layoffs will result in annual cost savings of about $150 million.

The Salt Lake City-based company also is shuttering its titanium dioxide plant located in Grimsby, U.K., as demand for pigments — used in paints and coatings — has waned amid the housing downturn. The closing is expected to save $28 million.

The plant will stop production in the first quarter of 2009, affecting about 200 full-time employees and contractors.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6224509.html

---

Williams Sonoma Layoffs: 18% Reduction in Full-time Workforce; 1,400 Let Go

Updates as of 1/222/09:

* Layoffs began today, Wednesday, January 21st, 2009.
* A Williams Sonoma PR representative emailed me this afternoon and attached a copy of a “75 Million Infrastructure Cost Reduction Plan for 2009.” You can download the PDF here.
o The plan calls for an 18% reduction of the full-time workforce; approximately 1,400 employees.
* A Pottery Barn employee reports that all coordinators in his store were let go and that he was given 2 options: take the severance package or stay on as a “casual” employee with no benefits, vacation, etc. and be subjected to 0-40 hours of work per week with no guarantee of steady hours.

http://www.thedailyanchor.com/2009/01/19/williams-sonoma-layoffs-6000-jobs-to-be-cut/

[AndyA]

1. Williams-Sonoma is a horrible company to work for.

Lots of waste and inefficiency. The higher ups are way over compensated, and the employees in the stores always get the short end of the stick. They pay you for 75% of your worth, but expect 150% of your time and dedication.

I feel bad for those laid off, but there are better jobs out there. Williams-Sonoma does not deserve the reputation it has. :puke:

[Pale Blue Dot]

2. "there are better jobs out there"

I'm sure the former Williams-Sonoma, Huntsman, and Microsoft employees will be happy to hear that despite the overwhelming (and mounting) evidence that there are NOT any good jobs out there, you know that there are.

[AndyA]

4. Thanks for your input.

It didn't contribute anything. :eyes:

[blue_onyx]

3. Williams Sonoma cutting jobs is bad but...

at least the chain is staying open. I've read that it's one of the stores that could go under because of the poor economy. The job loses would be much worse if the store went out of business. Williams Sonoma isn't the first retailer to announce job cuts this year and won't be the last. Good luck to those employees who will lose their jobs :)

[Dappleganger]

5. Their stuff is way overpriced.

I can't tell you how many times I've left their store to go shop on Amazon for the same thing, but for less $$. Or the same model but not plated in plastic chrome.