Pandemic Forces Tough Decisions, Balancing Act for Hoosier Companies
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFrom layoffs and furloughs to skyrocketing unemployment claims and business closings, the coronavirus pandemic is continuing to wreak havoc on the Indiana economy. It is also forcing Hoosier companies of all sizes to make tough decisions based on health and safety issues and business survival.
Last week, one of the state’s biggest and best known companies closed its southern Indiana manufacturing operations and temporarily slashed hours and pay due to deteriorating business conditions.
“Number one, of course, is the health and safety of our employees at all times,” said Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) Chief Executive Officer Tom Linebarger, who adds the business calculation must be considered as well. “Companies like ours are trying to figure out ways to protect the health of our employees and communities and still find ways to make sure we are a sustainable enterprise because our communities are going to need us as the health crisis begins to wane.”
Linebarger talked about the pandemic’s impact on business and company efforts to reach out to communities during the crisis on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
Linebarger says Cummins has been dealing with the crisis since mid-January because of its substantial presence in China, including ten operations in Wuhan, where the pandemic started.
The Columbus-based company has more than 60,000 employees worldwide, including approximately 10,000 in Indiana.