Aurora Casket Denies Layoffs, Calls ConnectingDirectors.com Gossip
On July 2nd we broke the news that Aurora Casket Company had been sold to private investment firm Kolhberg and Company. Aurora provided great information to ConnectingDirectors.com during this acquisition, including an interview with new CEO Michael Quinn.
On July 27th we reported that we had been told by multiple sources that Aurora Casket had handed out pink slips to sales force and regional managers and that remaining personnel are predicting more cuts are on the way. Before that article went online we asked for comment from Aurora Casket, just like we did last week when there were reported Batesville Casket layoffs, but no comment was given by Aurora Casket.
After the news had been published we did receive a phone call from The Eisen Agency, who represents Aurora Casket, but still no comment would be given about the reported layoff. They did however send us a press release that announced “Strategic Additions” but still no comment on the reported layoffs.
On Wednesday, August 8th a Lawrenceburg, Indiana radio station website posted the article “Aurora Casket Denies Layoff Reports“. In the article a representive of the Eisen Agency (who is representing Aurora Casket) calls reports on ConnectingDirectors.com “gossip” despite the fact that numerous former Aurora Casket employees have contacted the radio station confirming the layoffs (see next article snippet below). Here is a portion of the article:
There are reports that employees are being laid off at Aurora Casket Company.
Funeral industry publication ConnectingDirectors.com reports it has received e-mails that sales people and regional managers have been given pink slips recently.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Aurora Casket is debunking the report.
“Unfortunately, the article you have referenced does not have any factual information in it and the company will not comment on gossip and innuendo,” said Caitlin Donatini with The Eisen Agency.
On Thursday, August 9th the same Lawrenceburg, Indiana radio station website reported:
Aurora Casket Company says it has not had any layoffs by its new ownership, a private equity firm based in New York.
But, employees are saying that is not true.
An Aurora Casket spokesperson said Wednesday a ConnectingDirectors.com report of layoffs were not accurate and the cuts have nothing to do with new ownership group Kohlberg & Company.
Several current and former employees of Aurora Casket have since reached out to Eagle 99.3 to say there have been workers given pink slips. According to different accounts, Aurora Casket may have laid off between 15 and 20 employees on or about July 25.
“You ask just how do I know? Because I was one of those people. There was management positions laid off, sales reps and sales managers,” one former employee said, asking to remain unnamed.
Funeral industry publication ConnectingDirectors.com has also reported that salespeople and regional managers for Aurora have been laid off recently.
There you have it, another source who is quoting employees who got laid off.
So, we have to ask: Should we change the ConnectingDirectors.com tagline to “Daily Funeral Industry Gossip?”
