Mercury cuts jobs, plans shutdown
FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Mercury Marine has cut an additional 60 jobs and plans to temporarily shutdown its Fond du Lac production facilities to balance output, the Fond du Lac Reporter reported in a story on its Web site yesterday.
The company eliminated 62 salaried positions in several areas throughout its’ U.S. operations, including sales, marketing, information technology, facilities and human resources departments, the newspaper reported.
A majority of the reductions came from Mercury Marine headquarters in Fond du Lac and Mercury MerCruiser in Stillwater, Okla., company spokesperson Steve Fleming told the newspaper.
In addition to the layoffs, Mercury Marine is closing production facilities for three weeks starting Aug. 28 to balance output. Two of those weeks had been expected, but a third was added, Fleming said. Salaried employees will continue to work during the shutdown, but hourly employees will not.
“Mercury is providing generous separation packages, including severance and benefits, in accordance with company policy, as employees transition from the company,” Fleming told theReporter. “Additionally, Mercury is providing outplacement services to assist employees as they seek employment.”
Mercury has made cuts to its work force several times since the beginning of the year. Sinking boat sales and a slumping economy have the company looking to cut costs, Fleming said. More layoffs could be ahead. Just how many, Fleming said he didn’t know.
“There will be a continuous evaluation of our business,” he said.
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