FORT SMITH — Whirlpool Corp. officials have confirmed that 850 employees have been laid off at the plant in Fort Smith since October.
The Southwest Times Record reports that 260 workers were laid off in October and 590 were let go this month.
According to an e-mail from Whirlpool's director of external affairs, Jill Saletta, the October layoffs were implemented because the plant is no longer producing counter-depth refrigerators. The November layoffs were attributed to a soft demand for products made at the Fort Smith plant, which officials say is typical for this time of year.
Saletta said layoffs were announced in late 2009 but then the company's needs changed and hundreds of workers were hired back this year.
The plant now employs an estimated 1,020 hourly and 110 salaried workers.