PCCW Teleservices is to close a telemarketing office in Tiffin Mall March 20, which is to displace about 120 people, according to a news release from the company.
Employees were notified Wednesday of the office's closing. According to a news release, the jobs are to be replaced at other U.S. centers, including a new operating center in Lincoln, Neb. The Dublin, Ohio-based company has operated a center in Tiffin since 2001.
The release stated the company is offering licensed insurance agents the opportunity to work from home, and some management personnel the opportunity to relocate to another center in Ohio. The company also is to work with local companies and Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services to consider job fairs and new job opportunities.
"Displacing employees is never an easy decision," Barb Bricker, director of human resources, stated in a news release. "We are truly grateful to those employees that have served us over the years and to the city of Tiffin and the surrounding communities for their support. We are taking every step to minimize the impact to these employees and to assist them in their transition."
John Detwiler, president and CEO of the chamber, said he is in talks with representatives of Seneca One-Stop to find teleconferencing solutions for those hoping to continue employment with the company, but discussion is in early stages.
A message placed to Tiffin Mall was not returned Thursday evening.
According to an article published in The Advertiser-Tribune, the company employed about 200 people last February. The business, then called Influent, has since merged with PCCW Teleservices.
While most of the focus at the Tiffin office has been insurance-related, during election season, political parties around the country employ PCCW to gather support.
PCCW Teleservices is a wholly owned subsidiary of HKT, a telecommunications service provider headquartered in Hong Kong.
