Nearly 3K More Layoffs Announced In NJ

NEW JERSEY — Nearly 3,000 more layoffs are coming to New Jersey as major changes take place in the state's health care industry and more store closings have been announced.

Many of the layoffs notices come just weeks after an announcement that a pair of New Jersey hospitals may soon have a new owner and the future of a third remains uncertain. A total of nearly 3,500 people are expected to lose their jobs in the state by Jan. 13 (see list below).

CarePoint Health – which owns Hoboken University Medical Center, Christ Hospital in Jersey City and the Bayonne Medical Center – has signed a letter of intent with RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH). Under the agreement, Hoboken University Medical Center and Christ Hospital will become part of RWJBH. Bayonne's future is unclear at press time.

As a result, 1,038 layoff notices were issued to employees of Hoboken University Medical Center and 1,074 notices were issued to workers at Christ Hospital this past week, according to the state Department of Labor. They will be effective on Jan. 13.

CarePoint Health Management Associates in Jersey City also issued 241 layoff notices, effective Jan. 13. More than 300 other layoffs were announced at affiliated locations in Old Bridge and elsewhere.

In a statement, RWJBH said the new arrangement is "the first step in the process of evaluating and designing a new relationship that will enhance health care services for Hudson County and North Jersey."

"Both parties will now engage in a due diligence process to define the specifics of the relationship. Approvals will be necessary from state and federal officials, and others, before the transaction is considered complete," the statement said.

Hoboken officials have said they received "multiple assurances" that any prospective transaction will not impact the continuation of medical services or employment at the hospital. Read more: CarePoint May Sell Hudson County Hospitals To RWJBarnabas

The announcements come as major retailers — which have a total of more than 200 locations across the state — plan to close a large number of stores and create additional layoffs. Read more: 5 NJ Stores To Shut Before Christmas As New Closure Announced

Kmart is closing a store in West Orange – just two months after the company announced that it was closing sites in Wayne, Trenton, Wall and Somers Point by Christmas. Read more: Kmart Store In West Orange To Close

The Lord & Taylor's at Woodbridge Center Mall is also expected to close by Dec. 24 and 84 layoffs are scheduled for that date. Read more: Woodbridge Center Lord & Taylor Will Be Closing: Report

Other retailers that have announced store closings – but haven't disclosed where or when they'll occur – include: Barneys, Bed Bath & Beyond, Destination Maternity, Forever 21, Pier 21 and Walgreens.

Here are the layoffs planned in New Jersey:

• Conair, East Windsor (Nov. 29): 98. The maker of personal care and beauty products is closing its East Windsor warehouse, which will cost nearly 100 employees their jobs, according to ROI-NJ.
• Givaudan Flavors Corp., Cranbury (Dec. 13) 4. The flavors and fragrances company is shuttering two New Jersey sites, according to ROI-NJ. The company, based in Switzerland, says it will be closing sites in Middlesex and Cranbury in December.
• Givaudan Flavors Corportion, Middlesex (Dec. 13) 100.
• Destination Maternity Corporation, Florence (Dec. 21) 212.
• Destination Maternity Corporation, Moorestown (Dec. 21) 430. Moorestown-based Destination Maternity is among the latest retail businesses to file for bankruptcy. The company, which has $260 million in assets and is $244 million in debt, filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 21, according to court documents. Read more: Moorestown-Based Destination Maternity Files For Bankruptcy
• WestRock, CP, LLC, Newark (Dec. 21) 114
• Lord & Taylor, Woodbridge (Dec. 24) 84. The store is supposed to close, perhaps leading to 84 employees losing their jobs. Read more: Woodbridge Center Lord & Taylor Will Be Closing: Report
• Alcami Corporation, Edison (Dec. 27) 27
• CarePoint Health Management Associates, Jersey City (Jan. 13) 241
• Community Housecall Providers, LLC, Jersey City (Jan. 13) 17
• Garden State Healthcare Associates, LLC, Jersey City (Jan. 13) 161
• Hoboken University Medical Center, Hoboken (Jan. 13) 1,038
• Christ Hospital, Jersey City (Jan. 13) 1074
• CarePoint Health Medical Group, Old Bridge (Jan. 13) 49
• Quality Care Associates, LLC, Jersey City (Jan. 13) 159