Nonprofit — facing a $3M monthly shortfall — furloughs an additional 231 employees

BRADENTON — Goodwill Manasota has furloughed an additional 231 employees, effective April 3. 

To comply with the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Goodwill Manasota has closed all of its retail stores. According to a press release, the action effectively shuts off its primary source of income. The nonprofit projects a loss of over $3 million in sales each month.

Goodwill Manasota previously announced major furloughs in response to financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Those staff reductions impacted 374 employees, or 52% of its workforce, and were effective March 27 until further notice. A statement says those actions also included voluntary leadership compensation cuts. 

With both rounds of furloughs, less than 15% of Goodwill Manasota's workforce remains active on the job.

Immediate steps to provide support for team members who have been furloughed include paid time off payouts, access to health benefits and a free TelaDoc service. 

"With the closing of our retail stores, there will simply be no revenue coming in to support our mission of providing jobs, education and training for those with barriers to employment," says Goodwill Manasota President and CEO Bob Rosinsky in a statement. "While we are devastated to have to take these actions, our primary focus is to do whatever it takes to sustain this Goodwill and be prepared to serve the community once this crisis has passed."

The organization continues to accept donations of gently-used items at select attended donation centers (while observing social distancing recommendations) in preparation for when stores can safely re-open.