ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602290054
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
Elizabeth Arden Co.'s factory in Roanoke will temporarily suspend operating a third shift next month but will avoid layoffs by reassigning the 90 affected workers to the other two daily work shifts, Plant Manager Don Hergrueter said Wednesday.
"We do have a temporary downturn in sales," Hergrueter said, but production is scheduled to resume on the third - or 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. - shift on July 1.
Hergrueter said he knows the change, which takes effect March 11, probably will inconvenience reassigned workers, who will have to adjust personal and family schedules. But he said employees understand that the company must trim costs to cope with lower sales.
The savings will result from a cutback in the use of temporary employees and in the need for support services such as cleaning and security, he said.
The first and second shifts each will run eight hours, instead of 71/2 hours, during the suspension of the third shift. A 225-employee distribution center will continue to operate one shift.
The plant suspended third-shift operations for similar reasons in 1992 and 1993, Hergrueter said. Past suspensions ended before the start of the annual peak production season in the summer, and the plant expects a similar pattern this year. He said the company has major orders for fragrance, makeup and skin care products for Christmas sales.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB