BROKEN BOW–Due to a decrease in market demand for certain health care products related to hospital visits, non-urgent surgeries, elective procedures, approximately 160 out of nearly 600 total employees will be furloughed at the Becton Dickinson (BD) plant in Broken Bow.
According to an email from Public Relations Associate Director of Reputation Management, Gwen Gordon, operations will resume as soon as possible in Broken Bow with the furlough slated to last anywhere from four to seven weeks. Gordon added about 30 temporary workers at BD Broken Bow will be released from their temporary work assignments.
The furlough comes from a significant increase in a demand for products used in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.
“BD has ramped up production of products that are critical to the COVID-19 response to maximum levels. In fact, the entire BD organization has gone above and beyond to respond to this pandemic by flexing manufacturing to focus on critical products, using all resources available – like 3D printing facemasks — and supporting hospitals as they urgently ramp up critical care bed capacity,” Gordon stated in an email to KCNI/KBBN on Monday, June 1, 2020.
For areas of Becton Dickinson not specifically focused on fighting coronavirus, Gordon stated that BD has made “the difficult decision to pause a limited number of our manufacturing lines which has resulted in furloughs and reduced work schedules for some of our dedicated and hardworking employees at these facilities.”
Gordon said the furloughs are expected to be short-term. However, pay will be suspended during the furlough but employees will remain employed by BD. Broken Bow employees will be eligible for unemployment benefits where applicable and will retain medical, dental and vision benefits. BD will pay both the employer and employee costs during the furlough period.
