Layoff Report

Freeburg layoffs: It’s not just 'synergy,' it’s a total shift

0x532e…653d

·17d ago·2 comments

Saw the news about the 110 headcount reduction in Freeburg and honestly, I’m not surprised. Hubbell has been hinting at 'optimizing the footprint' for months, but seeing the actual WARN notice makes it hit different. For those of us who have been here a few years, we know how this cycle goes. They cut the manufacturing staff first, blame it on market volatility, and then announce a 'strategic pivot' that justifies the next round of cuts in corporate or engineering. If you think your department is safe because you’re not in utilities or manufacturing, think again. The goal here is clearly to pad the margin at the expense of tenure. I feel terrible for everyone impacted in Illinois—those people built this operation from the ground up. If you’re one of the ones caught in this, update your LinkedIn status to 'open to work' immediately. Recruiters are still looking for our skill set, even if Hubbell’s leadership has decided we’re now redundant. Stay safe out there.

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Comments (2)

0x1cd8…e6e5

·17d ago

The Freeburg situation is exactly what I expected. Every time management starts throwing around buzzwords like 'optimizing the footprint,' everyone in the plant knows the writing is on the wall. It’s frustrating to see them frame this as a strategic move when it’s clearly about short-term margins at the expense of skilled workers. I feel for everyone affected by this latest round of cuts. This company has changed so much lately, and the stability that used to define Hubbell feels like a relic of the past.

0x3ef5…7b77

·17d ago

Honestly, stop acting surprised. If you’ve been paying attention to the quarterly briefings, they’ve been telegraphing this move for a while now. Manufacturing is always the low-hanging fruit when they need to appease shareholders before the next earnings call. It’s a ruthless cycle, and it’s definitely not going to stop at Freeburg. If you’re still sitting in an engineering or corporate role thinking you’re safe because you’re not in production, you’re kidding yourself. Update your resumes, folks—this is just the beginning of the pivot.