Following last month’s announcement of layoffs at Michelin North America’s Emporia facility, Michelin has released information regarding said layoffs.
According to Michelin’s public relations department, 65 individuals accepted a voluntary severance package after it was announced the company would be laying off an undisclosed number of individuals as part of a “structural adjustment” to its Emporia operations. According to the information provided by Michelin, the severance package included the following:
*8 weeks (320 hours) of base-pay rate including premiums in the rate. Paid as a lump sum in the first available payroll following acceptance and execution of the agreement.
*Continued medical benefits for up to 3 months at no additional cost to the employee, starting the month after they exit the company.
*Outplacement support to help transition to a new position.
*Michelin set up “transition meetings” providing all interested employees in the Voluntary Separation an opportunity to meet with a representative to answer questions about severance benefits, healthcare benefits or other topics.
*Employees who separate are eligible for rehire as openings, for which the employee is qualified, become available either through attrition or an improvement in customer demand.
While it did not reveal how many individuals were being laid off at this time, Michelin did confirm that just over 340 employees were involved in making agricultural rubber tracks and wheels at the facility in southeast Emporia. Michelin absorbed Camso in 2018 and fully integrated into Michelin North America two years ago, following almost $7 million worth of site enhancements and other investments starting in 2020.
