By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Amphenol Adronics has announced the mass layoff of employees in Hays as of January.
The notification was part of a WARN Act filing. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification is a U.S. labor law that requires notification of employees in instances of significant layoffs or plant closures.
The 33,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Hays also has been listed for sale.
A representative of the local plant would not comment on the layoffs or the planned sale of the building.
Amphonel Adronics manufactures antenna systems, coax cables and wire harnesses for vehicles. The company's sales and engineering offices are in Michigan. The company also has plants in Mexico and China, according to its website.
At one time the plant employed at least 157 people and was the 12th largest employer in Ellis County, according to information from Grow Hays.
Doug Wiliams, Grow Hays executive director, said although no community wants to experience layoffs, other employers in Ellis County might benefit from the Amphenol Adronics layoffs.
"I am confident those employees will be able to find jobs," he said.
He said many employers in the community are looking for workers, and he thought employees would be able to find good-paying jobs in the community.
Williams said the sale of the Amphenol Adronics building, 608 E. 13th, also presents an opportunity for another business or manufacturer to locate or expand in Hays.
Grow Hays is also on the verge of opening a microfactory in March in Hays. The new building is meant to give manufacturers looking to start new businesses or expand in Ellis County space to do so. The building will have space for up to six manufacturers.
Williams said workers also will be needed to staff those manufacturing operations.
Kansas WorkforceONE was able to initiate a rapid response to the layoff and meet with about 100 workers on Jan. 11 in Hays, said Tucky Allen, Kansas WorkforceONE business services director.
At a rapid response meeting, state representatives present all of the workforce center services available to workers. This includes resume writing, mock interviews and job search assistance.
Kansasworks has a service center in Hays, 332 E. Eighth, where displaced workers can receive in-person assistance with job searches or use onsite computers for online job searches.
As displaced workers, the Amphenol Adronics employees would qualify for funds for training. This could include such things as learning a new skill like welding, earning a certification like a CDL or studying to enter the medical field, Allen said.
Employers can also apply for funds for on-the-job training for these laid-off workers. However, Allen said those applications must be made before a job offer is made. Employers interested in the job training program can contact Allen at 316-303-2906.
Local and statewide job listings can be found through https://www.kansasworks.com/.
Kansasworks will be sponsoring a virtual statewide job fair on Feb. 21. Job seekers (attendees) and employers (organizations) can register by clicking here.
"It's a good job market for job seekers," Allen said. "People need people right now. A lot of these Adronics people had some good longevity — 10, 15, 20 years some of them — so they're good employees."