Sears Lays Off 220 At Illinois Headquarters

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL — Sears Holdings on Wednesday laid off 220 employees at its corporate headquarters in Hoffman Estates. CNBC reports that the layoffs are effective immediately. The news comes weeks after the retailer announced another round of store closings.

The closings are part of Sears' continuing "strategic assessment" as the company tries to eliminate unprofitable locations. Six Illinois stores are part of the latest round of closings.

Wednesday's layoffs will affect numerous roles across the organization, a spokesman told CNBC, and the company will offer severance packages and job transition assistance to eligible employees.

The same day news broke on the Sears layoffs, The Bon-Ton Stores announced it will close more than 40 stores nationwide, including seven in Illinois.

AP Photo/John Minchillo, File