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Additional workforce reductions total 3,700+

Hendrickson has a facility in Kendallville. (photo courtesy of Hendrickson)

INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — More businesses throughout the state are detailing additional furloughs, temporary layoffs and reductions in working hours for employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Six more companies have provided notices to the state regarding their individual moves affecting more than 3,700 workers.

Horseshoe Hammond LLC says it has furloughed 1,693 workers from the Horseshoe Hammond Casino, which was closed in mid-March due to the pandemic. The casino says it may remain closed for the foreseeable future.

The casino says it expects the furloughs to be temporary. “However, given the unknown certainty surrounding COVID-19, it is possible that the furloughs could become a permanent layoff.” 

Florida-based OS Restaurant Services LLC says it has “significantly reduced” the number of working hours for 1,448 employees at restaurants throughout the state. The company says, however, that it does not have any plans to terminate the employment of any restaurant worker.

The affected employees work at various Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse locations in Bloomington, Carmel, Clarksville, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Mishawaka, Muncie, Schererville, Southport, and Terre Haute.

Pennsylvania-based Parkhurst Dining Services is reporting temporary layoffs at its locations at Franklin College, Hanover College and Valparaiso University. The company expects the layoffs, affecting 365 employees, to last less than six months.

Illinois-based Hendrickson has detailed additional layoffs in Indiana. The automotive parts supplier says it is conducting temporary layoffs at its Lebanon facility, affecting 129 employees. Two weeks ago, the company announced the layoffs of 103 employees from its Kendallville facility.

Texas-based Visionworks says it has significantly reduced its manufacturing operations as many of the company’s retail stores have closed due to the pandemic.

The company says it has furloughed or laid off 125 employees from 15 locations in Avon, Bloomington, Carmel, Clarksville, Evansville, Fishers, Greenwood, Highland, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Merrillville, New Albany, and Terre Haute.

Additionally, Illinois-based Dental Arts Laboratory Inc. says it has furloughed 14 employees from its locations in Indianapolis and Lafayette.

“We had hoped that during this difficult period brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, we could keep all employees with the company; however, the American Dental Association recommended that dental offices across the United States close to non-emergency procedures. Unfortunately, we have seen the financial impact of that recommendation through declining sales and reduced incoming work.”

However, the company says many of its employees will be temporarily affected and reinstated as incoming work picks up.