Insurer plans to lay off 103 from Plantation office

Nov. 16--A national insurance company, Farmers Insurance Group, plans to lay off 103 employees from its Plantation office, according to a notice from the company to the state Department of Economic Opportunity.

Affected positions are primarily in the company's Service Operations business unit, company spokesman Luis Sahagun said by email Tuesday. The Plantation office is at 900 S. Pine Island Road.

According to the company's notice to the state, the layoffs will begin on Dec. 30 and last about 14 days. Of the eliminated positions, 65 are senior service advocates, 13 are service consultants, 11 are senior policy service advocates, and nine are service operations supervisors.

Sahagun said the company notified employees in the Plantation facility in November 2015 of its intention "to bring teams closer and increase collaboration by better utilizing our available office space and reducing real estate vacancies."

Last November, the Idaho State Journal reported that service center operations would be consolidated to either Grand Rapids, Mich.; Austin, Texas; or Phoenix, Ariz. Operations would be relocated from service centers in Plantation; Hillsboro, Ore.; and Pocatello, Idaho.

About 600 positions would be relocated, the paper reported.

Sahagun said Tuesday that employees were notified nearly a year in advance so they would "have as much time as possible to consider their options."

About 140 employees will remain at the Plantation location, Sahagun said.

Staff researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.

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