Layoffs May Loom at Riverhead Cablevision

Cablevision announced earlier this week that 26 employees at its Riverhead office will be affected by a plant unit closing, slated for closure on Feb. 2, 2011. However, the media company is not saying whether the positions will be layoffs, relocations, or a combination of both.

In response to the announcement, Cablevision released the following statement: "These field operations positions are being distributed through a number of regional locations and facilities, and we hope many of our employees will continue to perform their functions in a different location. Those who are unable to make this transition are being encouraged to seek other opportunities with the company."

Further requests for information were not returned.

Under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), employers with more than 50 employees must post a notice 90 days before they plan to close a plant, layoff workers, or reduce work hours which affects more than 25 employees. The notices are intended to give the affected workers time so they can start learning new job skills or find another position. It also allows the New York State Department of Labor the opportunity to reach out and offer the company its resources.

Fred Danks, a rapid response specialist with the DOL, specializes in training workers to enter the workforce or update their skills, often dealing with companies which post WARN notices. He said that the announcement may not necessarily be a condemnation for 26 layoffs.

"They might just be following the advice of their labor lawyer, in the fullness of caution" Danks said. "Because they do have to lay off a certain amount of people, and don't give them proper notice, they will face enforcement."

"Without talking to the company, you never know if (WARN notices) are a sign of the status of the organization," said Gary Huth, a labor market analyst with the DOL. "For example, if there was some kind of way a business was evolving or changing. They could be shifting one kind of activity from one thing to another, maybe something like hiring online ad managers instead of print."

According to Cablevision's website, 45 walk-in satellite stores can be found in the Tri-State area. Nearby stores can be found in Southampton and Hauppauge.