Thermo Fisher to cut the lights at California plastics plant, lay off 74

After pumping millions into its manufacturing capacity to keep up with COVID-related demand and bolster longer-term efforts during the pandemic, Thermo Fisher is winding down operations for good at its Petaluma, California, plant and letting go of 74 employees in the process.

The 74 layoffs will take effect on February 1, according to the state's recent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) update. The site itself will close its doors in July, a company spokesperson confirmed over email.

Thermo Fisher’s ten-year lease on the property ends that month, according to the North Bay Business Journal.

The decision to not renew the lease aligns with the company’s “ongoing effort” to “continuously evaluate its global operations to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness in meeting our customers’ needs,” the spokesperson said.

“Decisions that impact colleagues and their families are never taken lightly,” Thermo Fisher’s spokesperson added. “All impacted colleagues will receive job transition support to aid them in finding new opportunities.”