Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX) reportedly furloughed 160 employees at its Broken Bow, Neb. plant amid the COVID-19-induced dip in demand for certain healthcare products and procedures.
A report in the Sandhills Express said BD’s PR associate director of reputation management Gwen Gordon confirmed that operations will resume as soon as possible in Broken Bow, but the furlough is likely to last anywhere between four and seven weeks.
Along with the 160 employees furloughed out of nearly 600 in total, Gordon confirmed to the Sandhills Express that about 30 temporary workers at the Broken Bow facility will be released from their temporary work assignments.
Gordon told the news outlet that the furlough is a result if heightened demand for products used in diagnosing and treating COVID-19. BD’s areas of production that aren’t directly related to COVID-19 have been put on pause, resulting in the furloughs and reduced work schedules.
While BD anticipates that the furloughs will be short-term, the company is suspending pay for the affected employees, although they will remain employed. Broken Bow workers will be eligible for applicable unemployment benefits and retain the company’s offered benefits as well.