Outback Steakhouse Owner May Lay Off 764 Massachusetts Workers

PEABODY, MA — A national restaurant company notified the state Department of Labor that it may lay off as many as 764 workers in Massachusetts amid the economic slowdown caused by the new coronavirus crisis.

OS Restaurant Services LLC owns and operates Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. The layoffs affect restaurants it operates in Peabody, West Springfield, Tyngsboro, Randolph, Seekonk, Bellingham, Methuen, Leominster, Lowell, Auburn and Somerville.

"For employees who’ve had their hours reduced, we have provided relief pay for six weeks, and we assess our ability to continue to do so every two weeks," the company said in a statement. "We are also covering 100% of the cost of benefits during this time. As dining rooms re-open, we are recalling them back to work."

OS Restaurant Services said the layoffs will take effect May 15, three days before the state may start a phased re-opening of nonessential businesses. The final number may be lower, or the company may opt to lay no one off. The notices filed with the state are designed to give state and local officials warnings of the possibility of mass layoffs.

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It was by far the biggest potential layoff of Massachusetts workers reported to the state for the week ended May 1. Other companies announcing layoffs included:

• Crane Stationery, North Admas: 224 workers
• The Hertz Corporation, Boston: 171 workers
• TripAdvisor LLC, Boston: 90 workers
• The Harvard Club of Boston: 38 workers
• Care.com, Waltham: 38 workers

More Coronavirus Coverage On Massachusetts Patch:

• Sympathy Cards Are The Latest Hot Commodity In The Coronavirus Pandemic
• State Modifies MCAS Graduation Requirement
• Complaints Spikes With Mask Order, Nice Weather
• Coronavirus Case Counts For Every Massachusetts Town (Updated April 29)

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).