Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville is preparing to lay off 85 employees, marking the latest staffing cut at Blount County’s only hospital. The reduction, flagged in recent state paperwork, will affect roles across the medical center.
According to WBIR, the hospital filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development on March 24, after first notifying the department’s Dislocated Worker Unit on March 10. The filing lists 85 affected positions and notes that the workers are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement and do not have bumping rights.
What the WARN filing means
Under Tennessee law, employers must submit WARN notices when 50 or more workers are affected in a layoff. After a notice is filed, the state’s Dislocated Worker Unit and regional rapid response teams step in to coordinate transition services such as job-search assistance and retraining, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Local impact and response
Blount Memorial, the only hospital in Blount County, serves patients from across the area, so an 85-person cut is likely to be felt in multiple parts of the operation, including emergency and specialty services. WBIR reports the hospital did not immediately offer details on which departments, roles or shifts would be affected when asked.
What employees can expect next
Affected workers typically have access to Rapid Response services, unemployment benefits and re-employment training coordinated through local workforce development boards. The Tennessee Department of Labor advises employees to contact the Dislocated Worker Unit or their local rapid response team for specific guidance and next steps.
The WARN filing triggers the state’s formal process. In the coming days, local workforce officials are expected to meet with hospital representatives to outline transition services and clarify the timeline for job separations. This story will be updated as hospital leaders and local officials release additional information.
