Medical supply company adds another round of layoffs in Lakeland

Medical equipment manufacturer Stryker has announced another round of layoff as part of its plan to cut about 485 employees as it prepares to close its Lakeland facility in 2023.

The new round, the fourth, will eliminate 63 jobs Aug. 31, according to a letter to the state. The company previously laid off 22 people Dec. 31 and is scheduled to lay off 86 people May 31 and 30 people June 30.

The letter was sent to meet federally mandated Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act requirements. 

The company first announced layoffs in November as it began preparation to wind down and eventually close its Lakeland facility Dec. 31, 2023.

Stryker manufactures products and services in orthopedics, medical and surgical and neurotechnology and spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. It has about 46,000 employees worldwide, and its 2021 sales increased 19.2% from the previous year to $17.1 billion.

A Stryker spokesperson told the Business Observer in November that the company “constantly evaluates our business to ensure our resources are aligned to drive growth, serve our customers and increase operating efficiencies in a complex global environment.”

“After a careful and detailed analysis, we have decided to close our Lakeland, Florida, facility and move these operations to other Stryker locations,” she wrote. “People are one of our most important values and we will support impacted employees throughout the closure process.”