A leader in the furniture industry and one of the largest furniture producers in the United States, United Furniture Industries has laid off approximately 2,700 workers.
Most of the sacked employees from the company live in northeast Mississippi. The laid-offs came just days before the Thanksgiving holiday.
However, The company sent a memo via email and text to workers late Monday night informing them not to report to their shifts Tuesday.
“At the instruction of the board of directors … 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 Nov. 21,” the company said in messages to employees.
“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.”
“Drivers were told they’d be paid for the remainder of the week and that they should immediately “return equipment, inventory and delivery documents,” according to the memo.
The reason behind the layoffs is not clear. This two-decade-old company dissolved its operations so suddenly.
According to reports, this summer the company fired its chief executive, chief financial officer, and executive vice president of sales.
The company was founded in 1983, in North Mississippi. The company quickly expanded to one of the largest furniture producers in the United States, with 19 manufacturing locations strategically placed across the country.
The company is one of the few companies that oversee everything from the manufacturing of furniture to the distribution of each piece; United Furniture Industries call its program “Trees-to-Trucks.” Today, UFI manufactures one of the most trusted and recognized brands in furniture, Lane Home Furnishings.
