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Workers at Abruptly Shuttered EMSI Call Center Find New Opportunities
Examination Management Services, Inc., or EMSI, surprised its Waco, Texas-based employees recently when it abruptly shut down for good in advance of the Fourth of July holiday, citing ongoing concerns from the COVID-19 crisis. The company, which provided call center and administrative services to health insurers, posted the following message on its web site:
“EMSI Ceases Operations, Effective July 3, 2020. COVID-19 has disrupted families, communities, and businesses in our country and around the world. EMSI has become a casualty of these unprecedented times, as the pandemic has severely depressed service volumes. As a result, all company operations ceased on Friday, July 3, 2020. We are thankful for all our customers and to EMSI staff and partners for their service to EMSI and its clients.”
The call center at 8300 Central Park Drive in Waco employed about 800, according to data from the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce. Its annual revenue is in excess of $180 million, according to the organization’s Dun & Bradstreet (News - Alert) profile.
Many workers expressed shock, noting they were informed of the abrupt shut-down by email. Some said they thought it was a joke or that the company’s email servers had been hacked. Workers received an email that advised them to stop working immediately and leave the premises.
“Final payroll amounts will be processed as soon as administratively possible,” the message said. “All employee benefits, as applicable, will end as of the close of business today. No employee benefit continuation will be available, due to the end of business operations.”
Some of the laid-off employees may be able to find call center work with Waco’s Empereon Constar, which is currently seeking new call center staff at its 1205 N. Loop 340 in Lacy Lakeview, behind Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, talent acquisition manager James Daniels told the Waco Tribune-Herald. Empereon Constar reportedly reached out to those losing their jobs when EMSI discontinued companywide operations.Edited by Erik Linask