Layoffs hit home health care provider in Tampa and surrounding area; nearly 700 lose jobs

Bayada Home Health Care is laying off nearly 700 employees as it closes five facilities in the region.

The largest number of employees let go work in Brooksville, where 306 employees will lose their jobs — 150 will be laid off in Brandon, 144 in New Port Richey, 79 in Clearwater and three in Tampa.

The job cuts were announced Monday, Jan. 24, and will become official April 1, according to a letter to the state. The letter, which was sent to meet federally mandated Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification (WARN) Act requirements, states that layoffs are due to a decision to close “our Assistive Care State Program Offices in the state of Florida.”

A Bayada Home Health Cares spokeswoman, in a note sent to the Business Observer, says "due to several external forces, we have made the difficult decision to close our locations that provide Medicaid personal care and support services in the state of Florida."

"This will impact four of our locations, a small percentage of our total Bayada client base in the state," the statement adds. "We will continue to serve clients through our Private Pay Personal Care, Medicare Certified Home Health and Private Duty Nursing Services in Florida."

"Our current Bayada clients and employees are our top priority during this transition. We are working closely with our key referral partners to help ensure our clients have continued care. We’re also working closely with impacted employees as they seek new opportunities, including roles at other Bayada locations throughout the state.

"We remain committed to our work in Florida" the statement says, "and will continue to grow our presence here across our various lines of business to help our clients live at home with comfort, independence and dignity."

Bayada, according to its website, has 26,000 employees in 22 states and has 350 offices. The company lists 14 offices in Florida on the site, including those slated to shut down.