INL Workers Concerned By Recent Events

Amidst a string of job cuts and several accidents reported over just a few short months, the biggest emotion seems to be concern for the Idaho National Laboratory workers who make up a huge part of the eastern Idaho community.

“They have to worry about being laid off, so they’re stressed. They’re not focusing, accidents happen,” said Beverly Hembre, an Idaho Falls small business owner.

As part of the community, Hembre worries about the thousands of folks working at the INL right now.

“When I think about all the accidents, to me it’s no wonder, because folks are always stressed that they’re going to lose their job with the layoffs,” said Hembre.

“The remaining employees are faced with a higher workload and there’s an added stress involved,” said Jim Pletscher, former INL employee.

Pletscher echos Hembre’s concern and he only recently retired after 38 years and a handful of positions with the INL. They’re just two voices, but it raises a question regarding workers’ morale.

“I think that everybody at the lab understands that this is difficult times for the laboratory,” said Mark Holubar, human resources director at INL.

Holubar said the affects of layoffs extend beyond the folks who leave.

“There’s also an affect on the people who remain employed and the work that moves on and continues moving forward,” said Holubar.

But it’s the future, Holubar said, that needs to take center stage. For Hembre, shaking the thought of her neighbors is tough.

“I do feel for them. It’s just so stressful,” said Hembre.

Holubar said the lab certainly feels for those employees as well. He said sometimes difficult times call for tough decisions.

Nineteen INL workers were involuntarily laid off in March, only after an additional 56 employees volunteered to leave.