RI Company Lays Off 300 Employees via Email

Editor's Note: Below is the e-mail sent from 38 Studios management to its employees. The e-mail was courtesy of The Associated Press.

The Company is experiencing an economic downturn. To avoid further losses and possibility of retrenchment, the Company has decided that a companywide lay off is absolutely necessary.

These layoffs are non-voluntary and non-disciplinary.

This is your official notice of lay off, effective today, Thursday, May 24th, 2012.

Important Benefit Information: Rhode Island Law 27-19.1-1 is Rhode Island’s mini-COBRA Law or the Extended Medical Benefits Statute. This allows laid off employees to continue their health benefits at the same group rate and level of coverage they are currently receiving. The employee will be required to pay the full group premium rate. You have thirty (30) days to elect to continue coverage.

A link to the law can be found here: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE27/27-19.1/27-19.1-1.HTM

Building Access: Everyone will be able to access the building tomorrow, Friday, May 25th, 2012, in order to collect any personal belongings still in the Studio.

Unemployment Insurance: Unemployment insurance benefits do apply during a lay off and you may file a claim for benefits. The determination for eligibility is made by the RI Department of Labor & Training, not the company. Here is a link to the site where you can find the information on how to file a claim: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/ui/fileclaim2.htm

The Department of Labor's Rapid Response Team will be onsite tomorrow, Friday, May 25th, 2012, at 11am, to conduct an unemployment orientation which will address questions such as:

• What to do when I’m laid off?

• When should I file for unemployment?

• What happens if I work in RI but live in a different state?

We want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to 38 Studios.

Bill Thomas
President & Chief Operating Officer

Schilling's firm lays off all employees

Curt Schilling's company faced a bleak future Thursday as its roughly 400 employees received pink slips, with taxpayers on the hook for its $75 million loan.