United Furniture Industries, which operates plants under the Lane Furniture name in the Tupelo region, has laid off nearly its entire workforce just two days before Thanksgiving.
The company informed employees via an overnight email:
“At the instruction of the Board of Directors of United Furniture Industries, Inc., and all subsidiaries (the “Company”), we regret to inform you that due to unforeseen business circumstances the Company has been forced to make the difficult decision to terminate the employment of all its employees, effective immediately, on November 21, 2022, with the exception of over-the-road drivers that are out on delivery. Your layoff from the Company is expected to be permanent and all benefits will be terminated immediately without provision of COBRA.
Over-the-road drivers that are out on delivery will be paid for the balance of the week. Whether or not you have completed your delivery, please immediately return equipment, inventory, and delivery documents for those deliveries that have been completed to one of the following locations: Winston-Salem, N.C., Verona, Miss., or Victorville, Calif. location. To be clear, do not complete any additional deliveries.
We regret that this difficult and unexpected situation has made this necessary. Additional information will be provided shortly.
Thank you for your service and dedication.
UFI/Lane Corporate Communications”
United Furniture employed over 2,700 people, most of whom lived in North Mississippi.
In an effort to help those affected by the layoffs, the Community Development Foundation will be hosting a job fair Tuesday, November 29 at Itawamba Community College.
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