L.L. Bean layoff employees, cites online shopping

L.L. Bean has announced it will lay off workers and reduce the hours of its customer call centers, a response to what the outwear company says is more people shopping online.

The company announced last week that it would be reducing its workforce, reports USA TODAY.

L.L. Bean plans to change its call center hours beginning July 15. The new hours will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. a reduction of four hours a day from the current hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“As more of our customers choose self-service and shop through our digital and retail channels, customer contacts have declined over the last four years,” the company said in a statement to USA TODAY, adding that more than 90% of its customer calls come in from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Simply put, L.L. Bean customers shop differently today than in the past and we must adapt,” the company said. “Unfortunately, this does result in a reduction in staff. Impacting people’s jobs and schedules is never a decision L.L. Bean makes lightly, and we will be offering impacted employees severance, outplacement services and, for those who are eligible, company retiree benefits.”

L.L. Bean is still working to determine the amount of employees it plans to lay off.

“We don’t have an exact number yet as we are working to manage through severance-eligible voluntary departures and retirements with company benefits,” L.L Bean spokesman Jason Sulham told USA TODAY. “This was just announced internally at the end of last week, so it will be some time before we feel confident in providing numbers.”