PF Chang’s restaurants indicate layoffs for 225 people in SC as COVID-19 stretches on
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro has indicated it could be laying off or severely reducing work hours for 225 employees across its three South Carolina restaurants.
The layoffs would affect its restaurants in Greenville, Mount Pleasant and Myrtle Beach and were noted in the state’s latest Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filings, which require employers to give 60 days’ notice of mass layoffs or closures in most cases.
In a statement, P.F. Chang’s said it “is actually increasing its operation across the country as its takeout and delivery business continue to thrive and local and state restriction are relaxed for dine-in operations.” The WARN Act filings were a procedural move to notify employees whose hours had been “reduced by more than 50% for six months or more,” the company said.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in employees’ loss of hours that started last spring, there is a possibility that some individuals’ hours may have been reduced to that extent over a 6 month period and they have been notified of such a possibility,” the company said. “The Company was over inclusive in to whom the notices were sent to ensure any necessary compliance with the law.”
The company has not responded to further questions about what its WARN Act filing means for existing employees. It is not clear whether any employees have yet been laid off.
An estimated 75 workers were affected at each at the company’s three South Carolina locations, according to state documents.
The prominent Chinese food chain has more than 200 locations in the U.S. and was founded in 1993.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include comment from P.F. Chang’s.
This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 11:18 AM with the headline "PF Chang’s restaurants indicate layoffs for 225 people in SC as COVID-19 stretches on."
