| Company name |
Years w/o layoff |
The promise |
The catch |
Company outlook |
# of openings |
| AFLAC |
47 |
"It is our practice and policy to provide employees with security. As long as they want to be with us, we want them to be with us." |
Surplus workers are reassigned. |
Mixed. (more info) |
Now: 102
In '02: 300 |
| Erie Insurance |
77 |
No official policy, but company says its history "demonstrates our commitment to a no-layoff philosophy." |
Reassignment |
Mixed. (more info) |
Now: 124
In '02: 350 |
| FannieMae |
6 |
No formal policy, but the company tries to avoid layoffs. |
A 1996 restructuring caused fewer than 50 people to lose their jobs. |
Strong. (more info) |
Now: 201
In '02: 800 |
| FedEx |
1 |
"The company's top priority is to protect jobs, pay, and benefits." |
Fedex Express, the original air freight company, hasn't laid off in its 29-year history. But it has restructured acquisitions. |
Strong. (more info) |
Now: N/A
In '02: 100,000 worldwide |
| Freddie Mac |
2 |
No stated policy, but "we will do everything possible to avoid a layoff." |
Freddie Mac laid off about 25 workers in 2000 |
Strong. (more info) |
Now: 200
In '02: 500 |
| Harley Davidson |
20 |
No policy. |
No guarantee. |
Strong. (more info) |
Now: 25
In '02: N/A |
| Herr Foods Inc. |
3 |
"It's not a policy, but it is our intention to avoid layoffs ... We won't bring on equipment and replace people with it." |
Herrs' does occasionally cut workers to respond to the market. It laid off about a half-dozen route drivers in 1999. |
Stable. (more info) |
Now: 4
In '02: 75 |
| Hypertherm Inc. |
34 |
"We have a no-layoff policy with the proviso that in the face of a severe financial downturn we’re not going to compromise the survival of the company." |
Overtime during booms. |
Private |
Now: 10
In '02: N/A |
| Lincoln Electric |
51 |
Lincoln guarantees a job (at least 75% of a normal workweek) for anyone with 3 years of continuous service. |
Mandatory overtime during booms. Reassignments. |
Mixed. (more info) |
Now: 2
In '02: 52 |
| Nucor |
33 |
"We don't have a written policy. But it's our practice to avoid layoffs." |
Reassignments, and pay and hour cuts. |
Strong. (more info) |
Now: N/A
In '02: 200 |
| Pella |
77 |
"We don’t make an absolute guarantee, but our policy is to do everything in our power to avoid a layoff." |
Pella has cut jobs at acquisitions. |
Private |
Now: 85
In '02: N/A |
| SAS Institute |
25 |
No stated policy. |
SAS will cut jobs in spinoffs. When it reabsorbed iBiomatics late last year, it invited the company's 67 workers to reapply to SAS. 50 found jobs in SAS. |
Stable. (more info) |
Now: 100
In '02: 500 |
| SC Johnson |
116 |
"We will do everything we can to ensure continued employment for all regular employees." |
Moves and reassignments. |
Mixed. (more info) |
Now: 10
In '02: N/A |
| Southwest |
31 |
"We’re committed to making layoffs and furloughs an absolute last resort. We've never had to go there." |
Southwest employees don't get paid as much when they're not flying. |
Mixed. (more info) |
Now: N/A
In '02: 4,000 |
| Synovus |
114 |
"We have an informal commitment to no layoffs. But there is no guarantee." |
Moves and reassignments. |
Stable. (more info) |
Now: N/A
In '02: 2,000 |
