The Home Depot Customer Contact Center 750 Employees layed-off before the holidays Riverview Florida

On Monday, December 3, 2007 The Home Depot layed off 750 employees. Our center was responsible for creating installation orders (flooring, kitchens, decor, millwork) for stores in Florida, Alabama, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We also have arranged all national programs for water heaters and heating/air conditioning. Along with these programs our center was the contact for customers during the installation process.

Many of our employees had ten to twenty-five years with the company and our center has existed for six years. Everyone from managers to associates were given the same treatment; all that is required by law: a WARN notice.
In March Home Depot closed it's contact center in Addison, Texas after only nine months of operation. These employees were given ninety days notice; thirty days of work and sixty days of pay after closing the building. They had job fairs and help during their last thirty days at work.

It is nearly impossible for a person to find work during the holiday season and it's even more difficult to look for work while still employed. A job fair is scheduled in January, right before our doors shut.

My main concern is not just for the employees, but the customers in the states we support. The stores are not trained to build orders and deal with the additional work required. Also the company has put a freeze on hiring in the stores. The Home Depot is within the law; but morally lacking.

Order writer
Riverview, Florida
U.S.A.