Digital Domain closes Port St. Lucie office [ Lays Off ~280 ] (buyers, land)

[SeetheUSA]

Yeah- it was truly heartbreaking to hear about that family that moved down here and found out just as they got here that DD was closed. I really hope PSL is meeting with DD reps so they can set up some kind of assistance for these people.

[THX 1138]

Originally Posted by RuFFy08

Digital Domain was doomed from the get go. There simply isn't the existing talent needed to create this business in the local workforce. The local workforce is highly lacking in expertise. Not just that, the existing local jobs overwhelmingly are low wage, low skill, and the workforce is highly demoralized.

Many of DD employees were imports from California and elsewhere due to this, I was surprised when I heard the story of the family who moved down from New Hampshire with nothing but the shirts on their backs, for an accounting assistant job for $46,000, would have thought there was enough local talent in South Florida to fill that role?

At this point with them being history, I do not know why FSU and the City of West Palm Beach see's the need to have a DD Film School here?

[LingLing]

Originally Posted by SeetheUSA

Yeah- it was truly heartbreaking to hear about that family that moved down here and found out just as they got here that DD was closed. I really hope PSL is meeting with DD reps so they can set up some kind of assistance for these people.

For such a large scale lay off, their employee must have some assistance or severance packages. Just my guess.

[THX 1138]

Originally Posted by LingLing

For such a large scale lay off, their employee must have some assistance or severance packages. Just my guess.

I doubt it...

[59chevyguy]

I understand that the majority of the work force were from overseas on Visa'.
This is typical corporate bad thinking. If anyone thinks corporations care about people they are sadly mistaken.

[floridaorbust]

Usually the package that's offered is more of an insult than a help. I can't imagine coming to work one day and finding out the business is closing its doors.
It sounds like the "higher ups" really didn't have a firm grip on what needed to be done. I have seen it first hand. And the outcome is a bunch of good people without a job due to someone elses negligence. My prayers go out to the families.

[JERSEY MAN]

It's a shame. They hooked the taxpayers for close to 100 million bucks and than fired all the employees who moved and bought in the area. They should put the thieves at the top in jail for ten or 15 years.

[PortStLucieWater]

Digital Domain files for bankruptcy protection » TCPalm.com

[alsidw]

I wonder if this is another Solyndra?

Google Data: Voters May Not Care About Solyndra - Washington Whispers (usnews.com)

Another stimulus gone awry.

I am sympathetic with the employees because I too came to work one day and while on break in the coffee room read in the WSJ that my company had just been sold. We had 186 stores in 5 states. Rite Aid bought us out. No word ahead of time. The company did treat the employees well under the WARN act. We got a good severance package depending on your length of employment. Since then I have had several other jobs and none to match K&B Drug Stores.

[FlaLadyB]

Originally Posted by 59chevyguy

I understand that the majority of the work force were from overseas on Visa'.
This is typical corporate bad thinking. If anyone thinks corporations care about people they are sadly mistaken.

Everyone I met from Digital Domain are from the US and a group from Canada. Many were transferred from DD's California offices.