In November, seven companies reported layoff and furlough plans that will affect more than 1,100 Illinois workers. Seven other businesses submitted supplemental reports announcing 153 layoffs statewide.
The cuts were reported to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as part of the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.
Businesses that reported layoffs include a health care company, a cannabis company, three wholesale distributors, a manufacturing firm, and an insurance company.
Insurance marketplace laying off nearly 500 workers in Chicago
Citing a restructuring effort, Norvax LLC, doing business as GoHealth submitted a WARN notice Nov. 3 announcing the layoffs of 487 employees from their Chicago headquarters effective Jan. 2, 2026. The Chicago-based law firm Straus Borrelli PLLC is investigating Norvax for failing to provide employees with at least 60 days’ notice of the layoffs.
The Peoria Journal Star reached out to Norvax, LLC via telephone and email, but did not receive a response.
CVS Health laying off 219 Chicago employees
CVS Health’s Nov. 7 WARN notice indicated that the company intends to lay off 191 employees from its Chicago Oak Street Health MSO subsidiary in January 2026, with 28 more layoffs scheduled for next February. CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault noted that only 80 of the employees live in Illinois.
“The total number includes people who work elsewhere but report to someone who works out of the Chicago office,” she said. “Impacted colleagues can apply for other CVS Health positions and those who are not placed in other roles will be eligible to receive a transition package to cover financial and health benefits, outplacement support and counseling.”
PharmaCann closing Illinois cultivation facility, laying off 82 employees
The cannabis company PharmaCann Inc. is closing its grow facility in Dwight and submitted a WARN notice Nov. 14. The company plans to lay off 82 workers effective Jan. 13, 2026.
The Peoria Journal Star reached out to PharmaCann by telephone and email but did not receive a response.
Elgin manufacturing plant to close in January
The packaging company Printpack, Inc. will close its plant in Elgin next January, eliminating 111 Illinois jobs. The company reported the layoff Nov. 12. They will take effect Jan. 5, 2026.
“It is never easy to make decisions that affect the lives and livelihoods of our associates,” said Printpack chief operating officer Jack Austin. “Our Elgin associates have demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism throughout the years. Unfortunately, shifts in core market demand impacted our ability to serve customers from Elgin, making the decision necessary.”
Printpack announced in a Dec. 3 press release that the company will offer transfer opportunities to associates interested in employment at other locations. The company will also provide severance packages and career transition support.
Consolidated Hospitality Supplies to lay off 54 Illinois workers
The Vernon Hills-based hospitality industry and equipment distributor Consolidated Hospitality Supplies announced the upcoming closure of facilities in Vernon Hills and Lake Bluff in a Nov. 5 WARN notice. The closures will result in 45 layoffs effective Jan. 4, 2026, and nine more effective Jan. 18, 2026.
Telephone calls and emails to Consolidated did not generate a response.
Electronics manufacturer reports furloughs for 42 Illinois workers
Remke Industries, Inc. in Vernon Hills reported in a Nov. 7 WARN notice that it will lay off 42 employees between Jan. 9 and May 30, 2026. The company did not provide a reason for the layoffs. A spokesperson for Remke’s parent company, NSI Industries, LLC declined to comment.
Deerfield-based wholesaler to eliminate 44 jobs next January
The office supplies wholesale distributor Essendant submitted a WARN notice Nov. 20 that it will lay off 44 employees at its Greenville facility Jan. 19, 2026. The Journal Star reached out to Essendany by telephone but did not receive a response.
OSF HealthCare will lay off 90 additional employees in Urbana
The health care system OSF HealthCare submitted supplemental WARN notices Nov. 24 to report that they will lay off one employee from OSF Cardiovascular Institute and Medical Group in Urbana and 89 from OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana before Dec. 31. OSF previously announced a total of 91 layoffs, effective between Aug. 8 to Aug. 22, from the two facilities in a June 16 WARN notice.
The Peoria Journal Star reached out to OSF HealthCare by telephone and email but did not receive a response.
Capital One to lay off two more employees in Riverwoods
The bank holding company Capital One announced in a Nov. 6 supplemental WARN notice that it intends to eliminate two additional jobs from its Riverwoods site on Jan. 6, 2026. A company spokesperson said the layoff were part of an effort to integrate Capital One with Discover Financial Services, which Capital One acquired in May.
“Our focus right now is on fully supporting our colleagues impacted by this change,” a Capital One spokesperson said. “We provided at least 60 days of notice to impacted employees, and we are providing comprehensive career transition support, including enhanced severance, benefits, and outplacement resources.”
Capital One initially submitted a WARN notice Aug. 15 to report they would lay off 215 Riverwoods employees between Oct. 17 and May 1, 2026.
Lost contract in Kankakee means 36 more layoffs
Citing a lost contract with TouchPoint Support Services at St. Mary Hospital in Kankakee, the food service contractor Compass Group reported its intent to lay off an additional 36 workers there in a Nov. 25 supplemental WARN notice. The additional layoffs will take effect on Jan. 18, 2026.
“Our Food and Nutrition Services contract with St. Mary’s Hospital – Kankakee is ending on January 18, 2026,” said a TouchPoint spokesperson. “We have been honored to serve patients, clinical caregivers and guests at this location.”
Compass Group previously submitted a WARN notice on Jan. 7 that it would lay off 451 workers at multiple Illinois locations Mar. 1.
Nonprofit organization announces eight more layoffs in Chicago
The American Institutes for Research reported in a Nov. 7 supplemental WARN notice that it intends to eliminate eight more positions at its Chicago location effective Jan. 5, 2026. The organization initially laid off 75 Chicago employees on May 9.
The Journal Star reached out to the American Institutes for Research by telephone but did not receive a reply.
Nordstrom Credit laying off six more Illinois workers in 2026
The Nordstrom, Inc. subsidiary Nordstrom Credit, Inc intends to lay off six employees at multiple Illinois locations between Feb. 1 and Mar. 1, 2026, according WARN notices submitted on Nov. 17 and Nov. 20.
Nordstrom Credit Inc. previously laid off seven Illinois employees Aug. 16 and reported the layoffs in a June 3. WARN notice. Telephone and email inquiries to the company did not generate a response.
More layoffs ahead for pharmaceutical company workers in Decatur
After announcing in a Sept. 15 WARN notice that it would eliminate 86 positions from its Decatur facilities, Rising Pharma Holdings submitted a supplemental WARN notice Nov. 14 that it would lay off 11 more Decatur employees effective Jan. 15, 2026.
The Journal Star reached out to Rising Pharma Holdings by telephone and email but did not receive a reply as of Thursday afternoon.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: WARN reports show layoffs ahead for over 1,100 Illinois workers
Reporting by Mike Kramer, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
