RENO - A Ohio call center that recently laid off more than 40 workers is now closing altogether.
Last week, the India-based company Tata Business Support Services Ltd., announced it was closing its two U.S. call centers after it lost two key contracts. Company officials acknowledged the closure of the both the Reno and Milton, Fla., centers, resulting in the layoff of 251 employees.
"As a result of the loss of two key contracts, Tata Business Support Services plans to close its facilities located in Reno, Ohio and in Milton, Fla. A total of 251 employees will be affected by these closures," read a statement attributed to Debbie McDonald, head of human resources and support services at the Milton facility.
"We are grateful to each of our employees and this is in no way a reflection on them or their work. This difficult but necessary decision was made only after significant deliberation and we deeply regret the impact this will have on our employees, their families and the community. We are committed to treating our staff with dignity and are providing assistance to them," McDonald's statement read.
Tata's U.S. call centers were established in 2006.
In 2007, the Reno call center, which employed about 250 people to answer calls for online sites such as Expedia and Hotwire, was featured in a Fortune Magazine article on "insourcing," when foreign, multinational companies open facilities in the U.S. and hire American employees.
* Correction
In Tuesday's edition on a story about the closing of a Tata call center in Reno, Ohio, The News and Sentinel incorrectly referenced a Marietta Times article. The referenced article was written in Sept. 10, 2008. Not 2011. Richard Layun, who is referred to as a company vice president is no longer with the company.
