Livermore Lab laying off 440
By Betsy MasonContra Costa Times
Article Launched: 05/21/2008 11:03:03 PM PDT
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is laying off 440 employees today and Friday, including 110 scientists and engineers with more than a decade of experience.
The lab had received approval from the National Nuclear Security Administration to release up to 535 employees from the permanent work force, but instead will cut about 100 more temporary "flex-term" workers in the coming months to make up the difference.
"It was never just about getting that number at all costs," lab spokeswoman Susan Houghton said. "It was about doing it right."
Lab management determined that the permanent work force couldn't be slimmed any further and the rest of the cuts could be more easily absorbed elsewhere.
Notices are being sent out today to 500 temporary employees, informing them that about 100 of them will lose their jobs as early as the end of June, bringing the total work force down to about 6,600.
"We do not believe after this it will be necessary to have another involuntary separation at the lab," Houghton said. The layoffs should bring the lab in line with its budget for fiscal 2009, she said. The budget shortfall is due to increased costs associated with switching management from the University of California to a private management company in October, along with federal budget cuts.
Today, three-fourths of the permanent employees being laid off will be notified and brought to a centralized "exit center" to receive their benefits packages, return lab property and leave. They will be paid for 30 days before their severance pay of one week per year of service at the lab kicks in.
An additional 54 scientists and engineers with less than 10 years at the lab are among those being notified today.
The 110 experienced scientists and engineers, such as biologists and chemists, will be released Friday. Before their severance begins, they will have the option of staying on the payroll for three months and doing unclassified work in an office outside the lab's perimeter fence, or telecommuting.
The other 276 employees being released include financial analysts, facilities technicians and administrative assistants. This is the first time in 35 years that permanent lab employees are being laid off.
Houghton said the lab is doing a number of things to help employees find new jobs, including organizing a career fair on June 19 with 35 employers who are interested in hiring lab workers and opening a new resource center on Tuesday to help laid-off employees with resume building, benefits counseling and training opportunities.
"Our goal is to separate these employees in the most empathetic and dignified way as possible," Houghton said. "We realize it's difficult, but we want to better position our lab for the future."
Reach Betsy Mason at 925-952-5026 or bmason@bayareanewsgroup.com
By Betsy MasonContra Costa Times
Article Launched: 05/21/2008 11:03:03 PM PDT
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is laying off 440 employees today and Friday, including 110 scientists and engineers with more than a decade of experience.
The lab had received approval from the National Nuclear Security Administration to release up to 535 employees from the permanent work force, but instead will cut about 100 more temporary "flex-term" workers in the coming months to make up the difference.
"It was never just about getting that number at all costs," lab spokeswoman Susan Houghton said. "It was about doing it right."
Lab management determined that the permanent work force couldn't be slimmed any further and the rest of the cuts could be more easily absorbed elsewhere.
Notices are being sent out today to 500 temporary employees, informing them that about 100 of them will lose their jobs as early as the end of June, bringing the total work force down to about 6,600.
"We do not believe after this it will be necessary to have another involuntary separation at the lab," Houghton said. The layoffs should bring the lab in line with its budget for fiscal 2009, she said. The budget shortfall is due to increased costs associated with switching management from the University of California to a private management company in October, along with federal budget cuts.
Today, three-fourths of the permanent employees being laid off will be notified and brought to a centralized "exit center" to receive their benefits packages, return lab property and leave. They will be paid for 30 days before their severance pay of one week per year of service at the lab kicks in.
An additional 54 scientists and engineers with less than 10 years at the lab are among those being notified today.
The 110 experienced scientists and engineers, such as biologists and chemists, will be released Friday. Before their severance begins, they will have the option of staying on the payroll for three months and doing unclassified work in an office outside the lab's perimeter fence, or telecommuting.
The other 276 employees being released include financial analysts, facilities technicians and administrative assistants. This is the first time in 35 years that permanent lab employees are being laid off.
Houghton said the lab is doing a number of things to help employees find new jobs, including organizing a career fair on June 19 with 35 employers who are interested in hiring lab workers and opening a new resource center on Tuesday to help laid-off employees with resume building, benefits counseling and training opportunities.
"Our goal is to separate these employees in the most empathetic and dignified way as possible," Houghton said. "We realize it's difficult, but we want to better position our lab for the future."
Reach Betsy Mason at 925-952-5026 or bmason@bayareanewsgroup.com
Comments
Q: Will LLNS better subsidize the LLNL Children's Center Daycare than what LLNL has been able to do in the past? This wonderful daycare facility is very expensive and cost-prohibitive for many LLNL employees. Since LLNS is no longer bound by the non-profit status that LLNL was, it seems that it can affect this change to provide affordable daycare for its employees. A: The DOE has advised LLNS that no contract dollars can be used to support the child care center. However, LLNS is working closely with LESA and the school board to get a parth forward on the child care center outside the BenVal and contract discussions. More to come.
Question Id#2486 published on 7/13/2007 12:46:30 PM Q: Strong rumor going around. We are hearing that there is going to be a RIF of 10% of the work force before Oct 1st. Mostly contract labor, post doc's and term employee's. True or False and if so again what are the facts? A: False. LLNS has no such plans. In addition, George Miller stated in his Town Hall on May 30th that he has no plans for layoffs or outsourcing.
Question Id#2286 published on 7/11/2007 2:14:03 PM Q: I have been hearing that in the near future and probably within the seven year contract LLNS is going to adopt a two tier system in order to recruit scientists. This will be a system where all PhDs will be under the umbrella of UC with an entirely different benefits and pay package while "at will" employees will become supplemental labor as that being established with TCP-2. I also hear that salary evaluation and out sourcing are in the mill. Could you please tell me what trades are going to be the first ones hit by its implementation. A: LLNS has had no such discussions nor plans. In addition, George Miller stated in his Town Hall on May 30th that he has no plans for layoffs or outsourcing.
National Ignition Facility 5
Weapons & Complex Integration 10
Global Security 15
Science and Technology 235
Operations and Business 120
Director's Office 55
Total 440
Note: The above figures probably over estimate the number released from Science and Technology and underestimate those from Operations and Busines.
The approximate S&T breakdown is as follows
Chem, Matls, Energy, Life Sci 50
Computations 30
Engineering 100
Physical Sciences 20
Of the 200s, Environmental Scientists (Class 230)were hit hardest in proportion to their numbers. 11 were laid off. About 20 chemists (Class 242), 7 Biomedical Scientists (225), and 63 Engineers (Class 249) were escorted out. 44 Computer Scientists and Math Programmers (Class 285) and 36 Physicists (Class 270) were released.
Regarding non-exempt employees, the Administrative Specialist Class 405 appears to be the hardest hit. Seven Financial Analysts (Class C012)and seven Purchasing Specialists (Class F032) were also released.
All of these numbers of those laid off are approximations. For accurate estimates suggest you contact LLNS Strategic Human Capital Management.
Those remaining at LLNL have enormous holes in skills knowledge and ability to fill - and under circumstances that makes an orderly transition difficult, and in many cases impossible. Are LLNS strategic management practices really in the 21st Century?