On Tuesday, Feb. 3, HRL’s employees, California agencies, Los Angeles and Ventura county officials, and city officials in Malibu and nearby communities were informed that HRL (formerly Hughes Research Laboratories), Malibu’s largest employer, will lay off 376 employees working at the Malibu, Lost Hills, Camarillo, Westlake, and Santa Monica campuses. The notice stated that affected employees will be laid off effective April 3, adding, “These layoffs are expected to be permanent.”
The notice informed that, “HRL may close satellite campuses and relocate existing staff to Malibu or to one of the remaining satellite campuses as a result of the RIF.”
Laid off employees in the Cabinet Makers, Millmen and Industrial Carpenter’s, Local #721 will be impacted. Employees were notified that HRL is providing commercial outplacement services to support impacted staff and that such job search support will be provided by Local Workforce Development Boards and their partners.
A total of 258 Malibu-based employees will be laid off, including a director of information systems, numerous engineers, chemical and gas handlers, scientists, and support staff.
The RIF’s effect on Malibu
HRL’s laying off of 258 workers in its Malibu campus couldn’t happen at a more trying time in the city. Clearly, it is too early to quantify the mass layoffs’ monetary effect on the City of Malibu’s coffers, local businesses, Malibu schools, and possibly, the local real estate market. HRL’s reduction in force is occurring when the city, which a few years ago enjoyed a large surplus, is dipping into some of its reserves to address infrastructure repairs and improvements after the Palisades Fire and to assist those who are rebuilding as the city awaits reimbursement from FEMA for its fire response expenditures.