What Does A Company Owe Dislocated/Unemployed Workers?

[RandomAnthony]

I was struck (metaphorically, of course) by an article in today's paper about the closing of a local Kohl's distribution center:

http://www.jsonline.com/business/6407...

I was impressed by how Kohl's seems to be trying to take care of its workers after the distribution center closes. They offered jobs at other distribution centers, decent severance, a year and a half of company-paid health care (I think it's company-paid) and tuition reimbursement/outplacement help.

Now, it's important to note that Kohl's as an organization isn't closing...it's just closing one distribution center. But that got me thinking...what does a company owe its workers when it closes part or all of its organization? What do you think?

[[deleted user]]

That sounds pretty generous to me. I'm not sure who else would go that length.

I worked a long time for TGI Fridays and they used to have tuition reimbursement until "poof," it was gone.

I don't have much to say about this, though I live in the Detroit area and I know a lot of people in the auto industry are getting paid to retire early. That sounds pretty good to me, though I'm not sure if any of these people are set for life. I've never been paid to not work before, but it sounds like a good gig for a little while.

[Mary JL]

Stefano: Taking early retirement sounds great. But, one thing is really important--does your severance package include medical. Let's say, you get offered early retirement at 58. You are too young for Medicare. You get hit with a serious illness; and it might really causes a financila disaster.

Also, let's say you want to work aprt time because you do not like sitting home after a while. Your chances of finding a job at 58 are not real good.