Saks to Cut 116 Jobs at Flagship Fifth Avenue Store
Reuters reports that Saks is cutting 116 positions at the cosmetics and fragrance counters at its flagship Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan. Saks is going to have companies like Chanel, Lancome and Clinique staff its cosmetic counters themselves so it won't need as many of its own employees working at the counters.
A Saks spokeswoman on Wednesday said the transition would be effective as of Jan. 31. The affected Saks workers, who are eligible for severance benefits, can apply for openings in other departments of the Manhattan store, the luxury retailer said.
Saks expects that "a number of the affected associates" will be asked to interview for jobs with the outside vendors.
The spokeswoman said that currently about 70 percent of workers in the cosmetics and fragrance departments are employed by outside vendors.
The New York Post also has an article on the job cuts. The Post says the employees were told they will lose their jobs just after the holidays.
