Blaine Aveda Hub Braces As Estée Lauder Axes 68 Jobs

Workers at Aveda’s sprawling Blaine campus are facing fresh uncertainty as Estée Lauder moves to cut 68 jobs at the longtime Twin Cities operation, according to local reporting.

The positions are tied to the beauty brand’s Minnesota manufacturing and distribution site, a major local employer that also houses corporate offices. Company documents and local records indicate the Blaine campus includes production facilities, office space and a Midwest distribution center. Specific dates for the cuts, along with details on severance or possible reassignment, have not yet been disclosed.

As reported by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Estée Lauder plans to eliminate 68 roles at the Blaine campus as part of a broader restructuring. The outlet notes that the shake-up at the Minnesota facility ties into a larger workforce-reduction plan that is expected to cut thousands of jobs across the company by next summer.

The Blaine move is one piece of a companywide cost-cutting campaign that Estée Lauder rolled out last year, when it said it would shrink its global headcount by thousands as part of a restructuring strategy. The Associated Press reported that the company previously outlined plans to cut up to 7,000 positions in an effort to restore profitability.

What the Blaine campus does

Aveda describes the Blaine property as a multi-use campus spanning more than 58 acres, home to corporate offices, manufacturing operations, research facilities and a Midwest distribution hub that ships hundreds of products. According to Aveda, the site is central to both the brand’s product pipeline and its sustainability initiatives.

Legal notices and what workers may be owed

Layoffs on this scale can trigger both federal and state notice rules. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that certain plant closings and mass layoffs generally require 60 days’ advance warning under the federal WARN Act. Companies that fail to comply can face back-pay obligations and other penalties. The Department of Labor offers guidance for employers and workers navigating those requirements.

At the state level, Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development helps manage layoff and WARN notifications, and provides information for affected communities. DEED maintains layoff reporting and resources that workers and local officials may turn to as details become clearer.

For now, employees and local leaders are waiting on more specifics about when the cuts will hit, what severance packages may look like and what kind of job-placement assistance will be available. No detailed local statement from Estée Lauder or Aveda was available at publication. This story will be updated if the companies release additional information.