CVS To Lay Off 800 Longs Employees

After CVS completed its purchase of competitor Longs Drugs, the company announced it will eliminate 800 jobs within the newly-acquired chain. The jobs immediately affected will be at Longs' corporate offices. CVS chairman, president and CEO Thomas Ryan said in a conference call that retail store integration will start in the first quarter of 2009.

Longs employees discussed the layoffs with the San Jose Mercury News:

"The mood by many at the office is despondent," said one employee who expects to be laid off and who requested anonymity. "Many of the employees have worked for Longs for many years and feel a sense of loss as Longs has been a local and family-run organization for many years."

Another worker explained the layoffs come at a time when workers everywhere are already struggling:

"Compounding the normal sensitivity of job loss is the timing of this acquisition during very difficult economic times," the employee said. "We are all very concerned with the ability to find employment in this difficult market."

Have you or someone you know been affected by the CVS/Longs acquisition? Weigh in in the comments.

Read the full story: CVS pegs Longs layoffs at 800 [San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)]

Meet Ray F.

My name is Ray Funatsu and I've been a pharmacist since 1963. In '74 I started working as a manager with Sav-on until '94; that's when I stepped down because it got to be a little too much. I worked until 2000 and retired and now I'm on-call.