Abbott Deals Another Round of Temecula Layoffs

One of the Temecula Valley's largest employers, Abbott, laid off approximately 200 employees this week.

The affected employees received their notices Wednesday, an Abbott spokesperson confirmed late Thursday.

"In January, Abbott communicated that it was making adjustments to improve efficiencies in its vascular work force and to better meet evolving business needs," said Abbott Spokesperson Jonathan Hamilton, in an emailed response to Patch.

The company, which employs about 3,000 at the Temecula site, had previously laid off 300 in January from the facility.

"At that time we said that there would be several hundred employees in Temecula impacted over the course of the year. A couple hundred positions in Temecula were impacted yesterday, primarily as part of the previously communicated adjustments from January," Hamilton said.

The positions affected were largely in manufacturing, he said.

Abbott Laboratories has divisions in pharmaceuticals, medical products and nutritional products. The Temecula location specializes in the company's vascular devices.

In January, the company said the layoffs were due to anticipated declines in orders for the Promus cardiovascular stent, which Abbott makes in partnership with Boston Scientific.

Abbott is offering assistance to help impacted employees, he said. This includes: consideration for vacant positions within Abbott facilities; severance benefits, including pay and benefits; and outplacement assistance in finding new positions outside of the company, he said.

As to whether more layofffs are possible, Hamilton said: "These are the actions we are taking at this time. We regularly review and make adjustments to our work force to meet the needs of the business. We won't speculate on future actions."