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Jun 09, 2023

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams plants abruptly close; over 500 jobless

A sign tells Mitchell Gold employees to not report to work on August 28 as the company is ceasing operations. By MICAH HENRY (updated Aug. 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m.) A Taylorsville furniture company has

A sign tells Mitchell Gold employees to not report to work on August 28 as the company is ceasing operations.

By MICAH HENRY

(updated Aug. 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m.)

A Taylorsville furniture company has closed down over the weekend, due to monetary problems leaving it unable to continue operations.

Officials with the company, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, posted signs on the truck gate and office door of the Taylorsville plant at One Comfortable Place off Millersville Road dated Saturday, August 26.

The signs include:

“Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has recently and unexpectedly learned that we are unable to continue business operations.

“Any MG+BW employees that are located at the following NC locations should not report to work as of Monday, August 28th:

• Main Plant: Taylorsville • Frame Plant: Hiddenite • NCDC: Statesville • Any home office remote workers are not to log in • All home office workers.

“We are sorry about the difficulties this may cause.

“As soon as we have a schedule to get your tools & personal belongings, we will contact you. Thank you.”

Companies that have announced plans to either close a facility or conduct a mass personnel layoff are required to file with the state, under certain circumstances, a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification—commonly called a WARN notice. The WARN notice filed by Mitchell Gold Co. leaders on August 28 stated, in part, “At the present time, it is expected that approximately 440 employees at or assigned/reporting to our Taylorsville site, 47 employees at or assigned/reporting to our Statesville site, and 46 employees at or assigned/reporting to our Hiddenite site will be permanently laid off.”

The office door bears a letter from Chris Moye, Interim CEO for the company who took the leadership position April 21. The letter from Moye reads as follows:

August 26, 2023 Via Mail and Email

Re: Notice to Employees Regarding Separation Due to Facility Closure

Dear Employee:

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with official notice under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN).

As you may know, the current economic climate has presented significant challenges to the furniture industry. While we have been buoyed by the support of our wonderful employees, like yourself, The Mitchell Gold Co. d/b/a Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (the “Company”) has recently and unexpectedly learned that we are unable to secure critical financing to continue business operations. In the wake of this unfortunate development, the Company will sadly need to wind down operations and terminate the employment of our employees beginning on August 26, 2023. Because these events were unforeseen, we were unable to provide you and others with more notice of this difficult decision.

Your position will be affected by these events, and your last day of employment with the Company is expected to be on October 25, 2023, unless you are asked to perform additional services during the 14 day period from that date (or your layoff date is otherwise revised from that date). We are sorry to have to bring you this news.

There are no “bumping rights” to determine who will be separated, and this is a permanent separation. We are also notifying the appropriate local elected officials and the State’s Dislocated Worker and Rapid Response Unit so that you and other employees can be provided as much assistance and opportunity as possible.

With respect to final pay, you will be paid your final wages, if any, up through your last day of employment. Any benefits from the Company, including health in urance benefits, will end on August 31, 2023.

You may be eligible for continuation of certain Company Benefits at your expense through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”). Information related to continuation of these benefits will be mailed to you separately. You should contact your local unemployment office for information regarding the availability of unemployment insurance benefits (https://www.des.nc.gov/individuals/apply-unemployment).

We regret that this difficult and unexpected situation has made this necessary. We also thank you for your service and dedication to the Company and we wish you and your family the best during this transition.

Should you have any questions about the matters contained in this notice or any other issues, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, Chris Moye The Mitchell Gold Co.

———————-

NCWorks staff to provide assistance to former MG+BW employees

Alexander County Commissioners and staff have been working with the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG), Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board, and NCWorks to facilitate assistance for those who lost their jobs following the closure of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. NCWorks Career Center staff will be in Alexander County to assist these employees beginning this Tuesday.

NCWorks staff will be on hand at the CVCC Alexander Applied Technologies Center (230 Industrial Blvd, Taylorsville) on the following dates: Tuesday, August 29, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Wednesday, August 30, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday, August 31 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday, September 5, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Wednesday, September 6, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; and Thursday, September 7, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

They can assist with services such as: career planning and coaching, resume review and development, job preparation workshops, scholarships for training, and skills assessment and labor market information.

NCWorks staff cannot file a person’s unemployment claim, but they can walk through the steps of filing a claim.

For more information, call the NCWorks Career Center at (828) 466-5535.

Does this mean the employees must be paid through 10.25 under the NC WARN act?

If I worked there , I would find out if the upper management took bonuses and or depression packages and if so let your new agency’s know

If people have vacation days, 401 benefits personal time off. Will the people get that pay. Also will the employees get servance pay? We are entitled to those. Please give us an answer

What a cowardly way to end people’s livelihood. MGBW was advertising for help wanted as of Friday. Some shifts were working overtime. Then they shutter the doors literally overnight? Is this the new norm for corporations? I feel so bad for all the employees and their families. Especially with medical benefits ending. Let’s hope the county and state hold them responsible to do the right thing,

Biden economics strikes again. Best of luck to all those at Mitchell Gold!

Joe Biden’s inflation stricken economy strikes again. Congratulations to all who voted for him and his disastrous policies.

Congrats Democrats!

Bidenomics strikes again.

Most of my paid for order is now on hold w ryder. I am unable to get a release for what was supposed to be a 9/6 delivery. I also have a paid for chair i will probably never see, two lamps and a book case i will probably never see. Terrible!!

I’ve heard of people who break off personal relationships by text messages. I can’t help but feel sad for those who likely feel they weren’t worth a more personal good-bye. Unfortunately, character is a rare commodity these days. I pray for all our families who are impacted by this devastating circumstance, then insulted by the way it was handled.

Welcome to Joe Biden’s Bidenomics!! Small manufacturing is gonna be crushed. Get all your furniture at the dollar store.

We are hiring! Walk-in Interviews for all displaced Wed 2 PM to 5PM Hiring for Production, Maintenance, Quality. Keystone Powdered Metals 250 Old Murdock Rd Troutman NC

It was a good place.Sorry that it happened. A lot of good people lost their jobs.