Irvine Co. lays off 100 workers

The Irvine Co. announced Friday that it had laid off about 100 employees, roughly 3% of its total workforce, to reduce expenses in the wake of nationwide economic woes.

The company had been forced to make cuts because of the national recession and a drop in real estate sales, Bruce Endsley, the company’s senior vice president of human resources, stated in a memo to employees.

Endsley wrote that much of the company’s recent trouble came from a lack of land sales to homebuilders over the past two years. During that time, he said, the company rarely filled vacated positions in order to keep its workforce down.

Vice President of Media Relations John Christensen said the mass layoff was the first the company had undergone since 1992.

“We’re hopeful that further reductions will not be necessary,” said Christensen, who added that Fashion Island, the Resort at Pelican Hill and the Irvine Co.’s other centers of business would not be affected by the cuts.

Due to the layoffs, he said, the company has streamlined its operations and combined a number of departments.

In the memo, Endsley wrote that the company had laid off “some very talented people” and expressed sorrow at seeing them go.

“Each of them deserves our heartfelt gratitude and admiration,” he wrote. “We wish them the very best as they pursue new career opportunities. For our colleagues affected by these actions, we are providing severance packages and professional job-placement assistance.

“For the rest of us, we will continue to move forward, knowing that the Irvine Co. will emerge from this economic downturn stronger and well-positioned for future growth.”

The Irvine Co., based in Newport Beach, is a private real estate company with properties in Orange, San Diego and Los Angeles counties, as well as Silicon Valley.

The company operates planned communities and apartments, including the Enclave at South Coast, the Bays, Newport Bluffs and other Newport-Mesa locations.

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at [email protected].