Wal-Mart Laying Off 400 Workers At Macon, Georgia Facility

MACON, Ga. (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it’s laying off 400 employees at its return center in Macon and work will be shifted to a facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The Arkansas-based retail giant notified affected workers Thursday.

The company said the facility, which processes store returns, will close Sept. 13.

Wal-Mart said economic conditions were not a factor in the decision. The company said the Macon facility is too small to serve the Southeast region. On Tuesday, Wal-Mart said it would lay off between 700 and 800 people from its Bentonville, Ark., headquarters, a move largely based on changes to adapt to the slow economy.

Georgia state labor officials say employees will be offered assistance, including unemployment benefits and job training.