Maryland-based Perdue Farms is planning to lay off 293 employees at its turkey production facility in Washington, according to Inside INdiana Business.
In a notice to the state, the company said it is eliminating the second production shift at the Daviess County location beginning next month.
“Changes in consumer demand, decreasing turkey flocks, and how we produce and supply our products have impacted the Washington operations in recent years, making the change to one production shift necessary to achieve operational efficiencies,” a Perdue spokesperson said in a statement.
In its WARN notice filed with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development dated Sept. 3, the company said the move will be effective Oct. 10, though the affected workers will receive pay and benefits through Nov. 2.
“A decision like this, affecting our associates, is something we take very seriously,” the spokesperson said. “We value the many contributions of our Washington associates, and we are committed to doing all we can to support impacted associates during this transition.”
The affected workers are not represented by a union and do not have bumping rights, according to the WARN notice.
Companies are required to provide notice to the state of any mass layoffs or plant closures at least 60 days in advance, according to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988.
The spokesperson said the move will not impact the company’s other Indiana operations, which include a feed mill, grain receiving facility, hatchery, and breeder operations.
