Happy holidays - You're laid-off

MATAMORAS — Despite the chain’s reportedly successful holiday season, about 100 temporary seasonal workers at WalMart stores in Matamoras and Honesdale were laid-off this week and last. A WalMart spokesman said the lay-offs are decided by local management, but a Honesdale employee described “men in suits,” who appeared Saturday afternoon, blocked access to a time-clock and collected employee badges. “My manager knew nothing about it,” the employee said. The employee said some 50 to 60 temporary laid-off employees, who anticipated work through Jan. 1, were shocked. “There were people in tears.” the employee added. An employee in Matamoras agreed, saying the lay-offs were “corporate. They didn’t know here.” Lay-offs in Matamoras came on Monday. The Matamoras employee said 42 people were laid-off, “Thirty of them were checkers. They did the same thing last year, then hired people back on Jan. 1.” Spokesman Greg Rossiter said WalMart did hire additional “temps” this holiday season, mainly in stocking jobs. He said the length of employment is always left open-ended at hiring. He said it was possible that based on the inventory ordred and already handled for the sales season, store managers decided those people were not necessary. “Anytime we have to conclude an associate’s work with us, our goal is to make it as painless as possible,” Rossiter said.