Marriott Center In Solon Announces Temporary Layoffs, Furloughs

SOLON, OH — The Marriott Customer Engagement Center in Solon is temporarily laying off or furloughing 200 employees, the company announced.

The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) were notified of the layoffs this week, according to filings obtained by Patch. The Marriott International Customer Engagement Center employs 447 people.

Marriott said it began changing worker schedules on March 24, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to constrain economic activity in Ohio and around the U.S. In a letter to ODJFS, Marriott officials said they expected business restrictions to last 6 months or less.

"These government COVID-19 directives, however, have repeatedly been expanded and extended and have forced people to remain in place, restricting business, large gatherings and travel in general," Marriott said in its letter to ODJFS.

Marriott has been announcing layoffs and cuts at locations throughout the U.S. In May, the company said it expected "significant" future cuts, Restaurant Business magazine reported.

A Marriott spokesperson directed Patch to the following statement on layoffs and furloughs:

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a more severe and sustained financial impact on Marriott’s business than 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis, combined. From the first warning signs of this unprecedented event, the company took a number of steps to adapt and strengthen its business including reducing costs significantly and improving its liquidity. Today, Marriott informed its associates that the company will need to implement additional measures in light of the increasing likelihood that it will be some time before lodging demand and RevPAR levels recover. Specifically, the company informed above-property associates in the United States that furloughs and reduced work week schedules which began in April will be extended through October 2, 2020. Marriott is also rolling out a voluntary transition program for on-property and above-property associates in the United States who may choose to leave the company to pursue other opportunities. Similar voluntary programs are being considered in other parts of the world. Given the company’s expectation that prior levels of business will not return until beyond 2021, the company anticipates a significant number of above-property position eliminations later this year. The company is not able at this time to predict how many associates will be affected by these separations or any resulting charges or cost savings.