Warsaw company fires 65 employees

Zimmer Biomet, a medical device company based in Warsaw, fired 65 workers at it's local campuses this week, blaming the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zimmer Biomet makes products used by doctors and hospitals across the globe. The multi-billion dollar company has roughly 5,500 employees in Indiana, according to a company spokesperson.

An employee at its production facilities in Warsaw tells ABC57, management said there shouldn't be any more reductions to staff for now, but it could change in the future. ABC57 is withholding their name since they’re still an employee.

"I'd say a lot of people are scared. They're kind of angry, upset, which we have every right to be. I'd say there's nothing really positive other than the fact that we're still working,” the employee said. "My concern right now is that I could walk in tomorrow and be told that I'm fired.”

Zimmer Biomet said no one was available for an interview, and sent this statement:

“As a necessary response to the ongoing pressure that covid-19 has put on our business, we have reduced our workforce on our Warsaw-based manufacturing and quality teams. We have leveraged temporary plant shutdowns and alternative work assignments to keep the team actively engaged throughout the pandemic; however, additional action was needed to address this ongoing challenge.”

Zimmer Biomet is still paying shareholders their quarterly dividends by the end of this week, according to a recent news release.