Signet Has Laid Off More Corporate Employees in Irving and Ohio

Signet Jewelers, parent company of the largest U.S. mall-based chains Kay and Zales, has cut additional employees at its Texas and Ohio corporate offices. The company declined to say how many people are being let go. The job eliminations have come after voluntary and forced layoffs announced in February and March weren't enough to meet unstated goals for cost savings.The voluntary severance was offered to 3,400 corporate staffers and the company didn't say how many people it expected would take the offer or how many ended up taking it.Before the plans by CEO Gina Drosos to reduce its corporate staff was put in place, Signet employed almost 800 people in its Irving office. Zale Corp., which was Irving-based was acquired in 2014 by Signet. At its Akron corporate office it had a staff of 2,608 people before the reductions.Spokesman David Bouffard said earlier this month that there may be involuntary cuts after the program ended. The deadline for the voluntary severance office was at the end of March."In order to make our company more agile and efficient and to fund needed investments in infrastructure and growth initiatives, Signet s making significant transformation efforts," Bouffard said in an emailed statement on Thursday.The company has cut procurement costs and other expenses, he said. "We are consolidating as is necessary to reduce our workforce through voluntary and involuntary separations."All employees being let go are being offered outplacement services and separation benefits, the company said.Twitter: @MariaHalkias  Continue reading...