Nearly 1,200 Toys R Us Wayne Employees Are Losing Their Jobs

WAYNE, NJ — Nearly 1,200 township Toys R Us employees will lose their jobs company officials said in a WARN notice filed with the state.

It was not clear from the notice how many of the employees work at the company's Geoffrey Way headquarters and how many work at the Berdan Avenue store.

News of Toys R Us' decision to sell or close its 735 U.S. stores and distribution centers came six months after the Wayne-based company filed to liquidate its assets in federal bankruptcy court. As many as 33,000 employees are expected to lose their jobs.

The last day for Wayne employees is May 14, the WARN notice states.

Toys R Us previously announced closures of 180 of its U.S. stores, including 11 in New Jersey, including the Wayne store, in an effort to fend off the bankruptcy process. There is a 60 percent off sale going on at the Wayne store. (See Related: What Toys R Us Shuttering Stores Means For Wayne)

Under bankruptcy laws, workers will not receive severance packages, but will be paid for any hours they work with the company until it closes. A Toys R Us spokesperson said Friday that all employees will receive 60 days of pay and benefits beginning on Thursday in accordance with the WARN act.

In a news release, the company did say it is engaged in transaction discussions that could ultimately combine up to 200 of the top performing U.S. stores with its Canadian operations.

"I am very disappointed with the result, but we no longer have the financial support to continue the company's U.S. operations," said Dave Brandon, chairman and Chief Executive. "This is a profoundly sad day for us as well as the millions of kids and families who we have served for the past 70 years."

The once-dominant retailer struggled to compete with online retail giant Amazon and stores like Walmart, The New York Times reported.

Toys R Us announced this on Twitter March 9: "To our loyal customers: We've seen an amazing outpouring of love and support in recent days and we truly appreciate it. Our stores are open for business, ready to bring joy to children wherever we can, and to help new and expecting parents navigate raising a family."

Related: Toys R Us Will Sell Or Close NJ Stores, Company Confirms
Related: Everything Must Go: NJ Toys R Us, Babies R Us Closing Sale On Now
Related: Toys R Us To Close All UK Stores
Related: Toys R Us Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Outlines Strategy

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Patch file photo by Daniel Hubbard