Baltimore is set to face a significant workforce reduction as Broadway Services LLC, a company whose stakes are owned by the prestigious Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health Systems, confirmed plans to shut down operations by summer, leading to over 1,000 job cuts. The firm has been a key service provider across the Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. areas, offering various services, including security, janitorial duties, and transportation, specifically tailored for Johns Hopkins campuses and beyond.
JHU, in a statement first reported by FOX Baltimore, detailed the necessity of the closure, indicating a shift toward handling many of its required services in-house or through alternative providers within the local area. The decision to close Broadway Services, which has been operational for four decades, was settled last year. Despite the significant impact, the spokesperson insisted that university officials actively work with affected employees to find new roles, either within its system or through outside vendors.
According to a Baltimore Sun report, as of March, the university has been able to place 373 employees in new positions internally, while 211 have found or accepted roles with other companies. "We are continuing to work with the remaining employees to create transition plans over the coming months," a Johns Hopkins spokesperson stated, highlighting the ongoing efforts to mitigate the fallout from this closure.
The university has recently had to make other substantial job cuts affecting its global and local workforce, due largely to federal funding reductions, as reported by The Baltimore Banner. The Hopkins School of Medicine, Jhpiego, and the Center for Communication Programs have been forced to lay off thousands because of these financial setbacks, "the largest job cut in university history." These layoffs are said not to be associated with the closure of Broadway Services, which Johns Hopkins has emphasized is not related to any recent federal policy changes.
