Q Talk

[Johnnyeager]

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WNCN) – Employees of the QVC distribution center, destroyed by fire which killed an employee, will be paid through Feb. 1, the company said.

The company extended its shutdown pay through the end of January after previously offering $500 in emergency allowance to every Rocky Mount employee. About 2,000 employees were left without a job.

After Feb. 1, “applicable separation benefits will begin for impacted team members,” QVC said. All those who lose their jobs will be eligible to receive at least four weeks of separation pay or a lump sum equivalent.

Employees enrolled in a benefits plan will have coverage through February and will then be eligible for COBRA coverage, a statement from the company said.

[mspatmac]

I also read other large companies in the area are hiring displaced QVC employees as a priority.

[ALRATIBA]

I would have assumed that QVC had "business interruption insurance" that would cover employee wages.

[millieshops]

@mspatmac @Johnnyeager    All as good as the news can get considering the horridness of any massive disaster at this time of year.

Hoping all the workers who want to continue working find jobs to their liking and skills.  I know very little about that area.  Maybe 10 years back was the last time we pulled off I95 in the Rocky Mount area.  I suspect it has built up in the meantime.  I know around here (West Palm area), it's reported there are more open jobs than people available to fill them.

[ValuSkr]

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@ALRATIBA wrote:

I would have assumed that QVC had "business interruption insurance" that would cover employee wages.

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Maybe that's what's covering the 1+ month of wages and benefits through 1/31.

After 1/31, no wages etc. but employees can continue medical & dental thanks to COBRA.  I wonder if QVC will continue to subsidize the premium for the former employees; if not, the employees could end up paying more.

[Mindy D]

I know its very expensive to do, but I would really love to see QVC extend one extra month's pay and benefits to everyone that lost their jobs so they have a chance to pay their bills while they make arrangements to get other jobs, file and receive unemployment and put food on their tables.

[Love my grandkids]

@Johnnyeager IMO that's a drop in the bucket for Q, even if they have business interruption insurance. I'm another wonders what will happen to their insurance coverge.

[fthunt]

@Mindy D Never happy with a great deal............want more - more - more.

Q employees will do just fine....one fire not the end of the world.

[Kachina624]

Cobra insurance is very expensive.  Most will not be able to afford it.  It's out of the reach of Blue Collar Families. 

[ValuSkr]

I thought the $500 allowance to employees was generous.  After all, employees didn't lose anything in the fire, except possibly the contents of their lockers - cell phones perhaps.  And, presumably, their cars in the parking lot weren't damaged.