AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT DOREL INDUSTRIES

Montreal, Canada-based Dorel Industries, a designer and manufacturer of children's products and home furnishings, has announced that its Tiffin, Ohio, Ameriwood manufacturing facility will be converted to a distribution and warehouse operation supporting the parent company.

The conversion will impact 130 employees, commencing on September 5, 2024. Dorel. production and equipment will be moved to the company's other production facilities,

According to a company spokesperson, “This reduction is a result of a significant downturn in our business. Our parent company Dorel has been forced to make some hard financial decisions to survive this economy. This means a drastic change to the number of employees that will be needed going forward and the permanent elimination of a large number of jobs in Tiffin,”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall; why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT HNI CORPORATION

HNI Corporation is a manufacturer of commercial furnishings and building products. The company operates under two segments. The workplace furnishings segment is a leading designer and provider of commercial furnishings, going to market under multiple unique brands. The residential building products segment is the nation's leading manufacturer and marketer of hearth products, which include a full array of gas, electric, wood, and pellet-burning fireplaces, inserts, stoves, facings, and accessories.

Muscatine, Iowa-based HNI, a manufacturer of commercial office furnishings and building products, is restructuring its manufacturing footprint. The company has announced the closure of its Hickory, North Carolina plant in 2025 as it consolidates North American operations.

The closure will impact 200 production and operations workers.

According to CEO Jeff Lorenger, “Closing a facility is a difficult decision and is not a reflection on the hard work and effort of the Hickory operations team. We are grateful for their dedication and will work to assist them through this transition.”

“This is a strategic decision to optimize our operational footprint and improve business performance. We are announcing this several months in advance as part of our commitment to make the transition as smooth as possible. We will continue to grow our premium HBF business with our talented brand team in Hickory. This move will improve the customer experience for our trade partners and end-users, and more efficiently deliver on our commitments to safety, quality, lead-times and reliability.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT SLEEP NUMBER

Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Sleep Number, a manufacturer of Sleep Number and Comfortaire beds, foundations, and bedding accessories, has announced a restructuring, including management changes, a new cost containment initiative that will see the closure of 40 to 50 stores in 2024, and a 10% reduction in the company's workforce, including headquarters and R&D employees.

In another round of layoffs, 500 employees, or 10% of the workforce, is impacted.

According to the company's SEC filing, "Sleep Number has struggled in recent quarters amid slower consumer demand for its high-end mattresses. We have implemented a reduction in

the workforce across all areas of our business, including corporate and R&D. We don't take this action lightly, but we believe these reductions are important and necessary to align our cost structure with the ongoing challenging market conditions. We are rationalizing and optimizing our store portfolio in slowing the rate of new store openings and remodels, reducing our 2024 capital expenditures."

"Our restructuring actions include a reduction in workforce by around 10% or approximately 500 team members. We have been aggressively managing our costs, and this initiative is in addition to a significant reduction in headcount over the past 18 months. With the recent actions, we expect to enter 2024 with total team members 20% below 2021 levels and 5% below 2019 levels. We are also rationalizing our store portfolio to align with the current demand environment. Specifically, we expect to close 40 to 50 stores through 2024. While closing stores will create some demand pressure next year, we will minimize the impact by focusing on effective sales transfer, both digitally and to stores within the same markets."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?