COLUMBUS, Ohio -- More than 600 Walmart Optical employees were told Friday they were losing their jobs.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
The layoff will affect 650 local employees who work out of an optical lab on Rohr Road.
The laboratory facility makes glasses for Wal-Mart stores all over the country.
The company was in the process of meeting with affected employees in groups to describe severance and other information Friday.
Apparently, after the meetings, former employees were leaving the facility
“While this is the right decision for our business, it is a difficult one," Wal-Mart said in a press release to the media.
"The optical lab employs about 650 associates. All associates will receive regular paychecks and benefits for 60 days and will be eligible for other positions at area Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores. Eligible associates will receive a severance benefit," the press release said.
The company will continue to operate an optical-merchandise distribution center at the same location.
A divisional manager said that the layoffs were necessary in order to reduce costs and operate business more efficiently.
The company said it will host two jobs fairs for the employees.
Wal-Mart retained Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement consulting firm, to coordinate the job fairs and provide job-placement assistance to associates, including counseling, self-assessment, interview training and resume-writing training.
Orders that previously were sent to the Columbus facility will be dispersed to several facilities. Wal-Mart operates optical labs in Crawfordsville, IN, Fayetteville, AR, and Dallas, TX. The Indiana and Arkansas facilities are being expanded and adding approximately 100 new jobs, the release said.
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