STERLING, Colo.—High turnover and difficultiies recruiting staff led to the abrupt closure of the Safe Auto Call Center Tuesday and the elimination of more than 60 jobs.
“It is only after many months of analysis that we regretfully announce this decision,” senior vice president April Miller said in a news release sent from the company’s Columbus, Ohio, office.
Employees, who were given 60 days pay, two months of paid health insurance coverage, as well as pay for unused vacation and sick time, were notified of the closure in a mandatory meeting in the afternoon.
“They told everybody in one big swoop,” said Tina Wilkins, with tears in her eyes as she loaded personal items into her car.
Wilkins and many others had worked at the call center since it opened in November 2005.
Miller said the office showed high levels of turnover, far exceeding the turnover averages from our other locations and it was difficult to recruit others to replace those people.
Sterling has about 13,500 residents.
