Illinois Laboratory Now Will NOT Be Laying Off More than 400

UPDATE: Alverno Laboratories has now withdrawn their WARN notice with the following statement that was just provided us:

We are writing concerning the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) notice issued by Alverno Laboratories (“Alverno”) to its employees related to the asset purchase transaction between Prime Health Services, Inc. (“Prime”) and Ascension Healthcare (“Ascension”). Alverno is not a party to the asset purchase transaction between Ascension and Prime. Nevertheless, we understand the Asset Purchase Agreement between Prime and Ascension includes a provision obligating Prime to extend offers of employment to all, or substantially all, of Ascension’s employees assigned to the hospitals which are the subject of the transaction. We further understand that Prime has agreed to make the same representation and extend the same commitment to Alverno with respect to the hiring of Alverno’s employees. Therefore, Alverno has agreed to withdraw the WARN Notice it issued to each of Alverno’s employees at the Ascension locations. We also understand that Prime has agreed that if any WARN notice subsequently is required after the closing of the transaction, it will be provided by Prime. If you have any questions concerning this communication, please contact me. My contact information is set forth in this email. Bernard H. Henry Vice President Human Resources Alverno Clinical Laboratories, LLC

So it appears that the original feared layoffs are now fortunately not planned. We appreciate the new information that was provided us.

ORIGINAL STORY: Without a doubt my least favorite part about this time of year is the almost endless list of businesses that are cutting back staff as they prepare for the upcoming year. Just a few days ago, Illinois Work Net had a bulletin about mass layoffs that will be happening at this Illinois laboratory company. This is Alverno Laboratories Central Lab which is located in Hammond, Indiana right on the border with Illinois.

The Illinois WARN notice says that 413 will be laid off from this laboratory effective February 11, 2025. I checked the Alverno Laboratories Central Lab newsroom and don't see any public statements about why this mass layoff is necessary.

The official website says this company manages 30 hospital laboratories as recently as late last year.

I'm assuming this notice was required to the state of Illinois due to the large number of Illinois residents that likely work there and commute the short distance across the border into Indiana where the central headquarters is located.