Hoffman Estates, IL, April 1--Sears plans a layoff of 250 workers at its headquarters in this Chicago suburb, according to a report filed with the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
According to a 2004 state law, employers with at least 75 full-time workers must give 60 days notice to workers and the state of mass layoffs or a plant closing.
Sears Holding, which was created last week through a $12.3 billion acquisition of Sears by Troy Kmart Holding Corp., filed the report this week. The notice was posted on the department's website Thursday.
Sears spokesman Chris Brathwaite declined to comment on the filing and said it has not been determined how many people will lose their jobs. But the commerce department's website says 250 workers would be affected at the company's headquarters.
Sears has said some layoffs will be announced by the end of April from among the 5,000 people working at the headquarters, but the vast majority of the work force of 400,000 will keep their jobs and the company will maintain a corporate presence in Michigan.
The Detroit Free Press reported earlier this week that Sears planned to cut pay and benefits for its work force early next year. Brathwaite would not confirm the report, but he said Sears' employees were sent an e-mail Monday informing them that they would be told next month of changes to their benefits packages, to be implemented early next year.
Sears Holdings head Edward Lampert, who purchased bankrupt Kmart Holding Corp. in 2003 and brought it back to profitability, said after the two companies merged last week that widespread store closings were not planned.
The buyout, which created the third-biggest U.S. retailer based on sales, should save $500 million over the next three years, Sears has said.
