Plant Closings and Reductions in Force

Whether the economy is strong or struggling, Ice Miller understands the need of employers to constantly streamline their operations to remain competitive and become more productive. Whether an employer refers to it as downsizing, right sizing, or a reduction in force, our labor and employment team has worked with employers across the country and in numerous industries in helping them achieve their goals. An employer's change may be as small as eliminating a few positions, closing a department, or a shut down of production or service locations around the country. These workforce changes all require careful planning, proper analysis of potential legal pitfalls, forward-thinking strategy to accomplish desired results, and proper documentation of process and results. When a reduction in force or plant closing goes badly, the potential savings and productivity gains can be quickly cancelled out. We can help at every step. Ice Miller has decades of experience dealing with WARN Act and state plant closing requirements, handling union contracts as a result of closing facilities, crafting and implementing stay-bonus and incentive plans and severance packages, analyzing and handling employee benefit issues, communications with employees, and managing state and federal oversight agency issues.