BLOOMINGTON — Pharmaceutical company Catalent, Inc., one of the largest employers in Bloomington, plans to lay off roughly 400 employees at its location there.
A spokesperson for the company confirms a letter was sent to employees stating they will be notified by Friday of their employment status.
Of those impacted, about 60 are temporary workers.
"We will offer severance and job transition support to all impacted employees and will seek to deploy as many as possible to other open roles in the network. Bloomington remains an important part of Catalent's global network and long-term growth strategy," the spokesperson wrote in an email to WRTV.
Catalent, based out of New Jersey, employs more than 19,000 people, according to its website. The company hired thousands of employees over the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, it contributed to the production of vaccines and treatments against the disease.
In 2017, Catalent acquired Cook Group for $950 million.
Its Bloomington location specializes in clinical and commercial biomanufacturing and drug product fill/finish and packaging, according to the company's website.
"To meet the needs of the pandemic, we added personnel to the facility at an extraordinary rate to ensure that we could meet our commitments, but now the size and structure of our organization needs to match current demands in order to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness," the spokesperson said in a statement.
"they did a great job in 2020 and 2021 ramping up vaccine production and people have gotten more efficient. so if the volume is no longer there to support it, it's kinda hard to justify keeping so many people on the payroll"
George Telthorst with the IU Kelly School of Business says the Bloomington area is home to several life sciences and bio-medical companies that are in need of qualified candidates.
"There are four other significant firms in the area, and I think they're going to be wanted to hire experienced people who are let go from Catalent," Telthorst said. "So I feel that people here are going to be able to find jobs pretty readily."
In a statement shared on Facebook, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton says he is sad to hear of the layoffs so close to the holiday.
-
IMS Safety Patrol works to create lifelong friendships at the track
They're hard to miss. Their shirts are bright, and their job is front and center, helping the thousands of people who come in and out of the track for one of the biggest events in racing.Lawmakers push for review of BMV selling driver data
Lawmakers are pushing for an interim study committee to dig deeper into a state practice that allows it to sell your personal information.Pacers' Bennedict ejected after hitting Cavs' Hunter in the chest
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was ejected in the first quarter of Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday after hitting De’Andre Hunter in the chest with a closed fist.Man plows truck into juvenile detention center in Johnson County
39-year-old Jacob Dhondt drove his truck through the front vestibule and entryway of the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center at 11:40 a.m. Sunday.