Rhinelander - Staying competitive in today’s fast paced business world is challenging for many companies.

Keeping up with the competition sometimes means cutting back on employees.

Last week, Oneida County’s largest employer did, laying several people off.

Drs. Foster and Smith, in Rhinelander, is one of the largest pet supply distributors in the world. But as the company faces restructuring, a handful of employers were recently let go.

Drs. Foster and Smith's Internet Marketing and Media Manager, Gordon Magee, said, “In a smaller community like we have here in Rhinelander, we’re a close knit family as a Rhinelander community. It’s very tough.”

13 people were fired last week, all from various departments.

Magee said, "The 13 layoffs of this past week represent just over 2% of our workforce, reducing dedicated, hard working staff is always a very difficult decision to make."

In response to the layoffs the company released this statement: "The 13 layoffs of this past week represent just over 2% of our workforce, reducing dedicated, hard working staff is always a very difficult decision to make."

"It's a small percentage but if you're laid off its 100% for you and that's difficult," according to Magee.

A few employees reached out to us on Facebook to share their frustration and disappointment.

One former employee who wishes to remain anonymous worked for the company for more than 8 years.

She wrote, "My feelings have been hurt pretty badly and I am mad that they promote themselves as community and employee minded when they do stuff like this."

Despite these layoffs, there is some good news.

“Some of the positions will not be refilled. Due to the changing structure of the company as we move forward but others but others are hopefully to be temporary. So we hope to bring some people back," Magee said.

The last time Drs. Foster and Smith laid off this many people was more than two years ago.

Magee also said that the company is hiring in their warehouse department.
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