Human Resources Director Calls INL Layoffs ‘Very Difficult’

The Idaho National Laboratory is reporting a cut in its workforce.

According to an internal memo, up to 185 jobs will be lost from Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, though the exact number is not yet known. The company is giving employees a chance to volunteer to leave, and other terminations will be involuntary.

All employees were notified at about 11 a.m. Thursday.

Cost of fuel and commodities are up, and demand and business are down, the company announced.

Voluntary termination will occur in the middle of March, and involuntary lay-offs will occur at the end of that month.

“Anytime we’re in a situation where we have to eliminate positions and reduce jobs and talk about people losing their jobs, that’s a very difficult situation,” Human Resources Director Mark Holubar said. “It’s difficult for us to make those decisions and certainly very difficult for people impacted by that.”

The cuts mostly affect the research side of the site, though Holubar says there’s no specific focus to the layoffs. Indirect administrative support functions are expected to be hit the hardest.

The INL employs about 8,000 people, including contractors. Of those, 4,200 work for the BEA.