Official layoffs notices racking up as 1.9 million Floridians file for unemployment
The numbers on Florida’s official layoff registry are starting to rack up, reflecting the stream of retail, hotel and restaurant layoffs already announced. The online site for so-called WARN notices — Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications — sometimes lags due to administrative and paperwork. Companies with 100 or more employees are required to file Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications with the state when one-third of the workforce is laid off or furloughed.
The list paints a grim picture of devastation in auto dealerships, fitness centers and especially, travel and tourism.
As of April 24, the state Department of Economic Opportunity has verified 785,340 unique claims out of the total 1.9 million that have been filed; of those, it has paid 166,804 claimants a total of more than $192 million, according to a release. While Florida’s flawed unemployment website will be down until Monday, new claims can be filed at www.FloridaJobs.org/RAApplication, according to the state.
Among the travel, hospitality and restaurant layoffs listed:
HOTELS
▪ Hollywood All Suites, 52
▪ Seaside Apartment Hotel, 34
▪ JW Marriott, Brickell, 128
▪ JW Marriott Marquis, downtown Miami, 277
▪ Marriott Dadeland, 99
▪ Courtyard Marriott Dadeland, 21
▪ Soho Beach House, Miami Beach, 34
▪ SLS South Beach Hotel, 340
TRAVEL SERVICES
▪ Miami Air International, a charter airline that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, 171 employees
▪ NewsLink retail shops, Miami International Airport, 168
▪ Avis Budget Car Rental, Fort Lauderdale Airport, 93
RESTAURANTS
▪ Areas USA, Miami International Airport food services, 127
▪ Nobu Miami Beach, 125
▪ Samurai Restaurant near the Falls, 103
▪ Bartaco Aventura restaurant, 63
▪ Ra Pembroke Pines restaurant, 69
▪ Benihana National of Florida Corp., Fort Lauderdale, 63
▪ Benihana Coral Springs, 51
▪ Rosetta Bakery Aventura, 54
▪ Rosetta Bakery, Lennox Avenue, Miami Beach, 30
▪ Rosetta Bakery, Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, 32
▪ Miller’s Ale House, South Miami-Dade, 79
▪ Miller’s Ale House, Hollywood, 103
▪ Miller’s Ale House, Kendall, 66
▪ Zuma Restaurant, Epic Hotel, downtown Miami, 115
Previously announced were layoffs at high-profile South Florida hotels including Trump Doral Resort and at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
