Husqvarna Outdoor Products Inc. has already started the relocation of its headquarters to Charlotte, N.C., the result of a global reorganization plan by the Sweden-based lawn and garden equipment maker.
Not all of its approximate 100 employees in Augusta will be making the move to North Carolina, said Roger Leon, Husqvarna’s director of North and Latin America sales.
“Not all of the employees will be asked to relocate. Through the consolidation of the offices, there are some people here that are doing functions that were very similar to what we’re doing in Augusta,” Mr. Leon said.
He said he in unsure of the exact number of Augusta employees that will lose their jobs with the company.
Augusta was home to the company’s North American administrative staff, sales and service staff for consumer products division, purchasers for wheeled products and the industrial design center.
In June, the global headquarters in Stockholm implemented a reorganization plan that consolidated six business sectors into five operating units – one of the reasons for the consolidation of sales and service personnel to its existing Charlotte office.
“The other factor is just the general economic conditions that are driving us to find synergies throughout the company,” Mr. Leon said.
Mr. Leon said the transition will take place over the next six to 12 months, although some Augusta employees are already being shifted. The company’s lease for office space on Stevens Creek Road will expire in the middle of 2010, he said.
Augusta has been home to the company’s headquarters since its spinoff in 2006 from former owner Electrolux.
Despite Husqvarna’s plans to move, Electrolux has no plans to relocate its offices, said company spokesman Tony Evans. The appliance manufacturer maintains its North American headquarters on Bobby Jones Expressway.
Husqvarna is the world's largest producer of lawn mowers, chainsaws and portable gas-powered garden equipment such as trimmers and blowers. Its brand names are Husqvarna, Gardena, Flymo, Partner, McCulloch, Poulan and Weed Eater.
Globally, it has 15,000 employees.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Ugh.
I wouldn't wait around too long thinking God will help you. Get up and find a job!
Your compassion is overwhelming. I don't know if you've noticed, but jobs aren't the easiest thing to find these days.
andywarhol, you are an arse.
I agree with Andy. There are plenty of jobs. It may not be something you wish todo but they are out there.
Mourn for one day, then get on your horse and find a job!
andywarhol if you believed in GOD you wqould know GOD would help those help themselves may GOD have mercy on your soul on judgement day if you don't repent and just GOD to be your LORD AND SAVIOR before it is to late!!!!!
This is not the result of a global reorganization effort. The consolidation of the offices is a direct result of poor management and too many higher level employees maintainting their jobs because of good ol' boy relationships instead of being intellectually capable of performing their duties. It's all come down to this due to the prevailing "let's try this and see what happens" management style at Husqvarna, and the result is less revenue for the city of Augusta when the office moves. I wonder how long it will take before the Charlotte office is considering layoffs and moving the office somewhere else? It's just too bad that the intelligent, hard working employees have to suffer through the transition.
The Biblical message isn't that God helps those that helps themselves, the Biblical message is that God helps those who seek His help. You won't find "God helps those who help themselves" anywhere in the Bible.
This sucks for those losing their jobs.
This sucks for all of the people that have lost their jobs already. This "restructuring" began much earlier than this article states.
Andywarhol is speaking the truth. What did he say that was so wrong?