Bass Pro fires 11 employees in restructuring effort

A written statement prepared this month stated: “In the annual process of reviewing our business, we have determined that the changing landscape of the retail environment causes us to consolidate the roles and responsibilities of some positions within our organization and to outsource other duties.” (Click here to read the full statement.)

The statement announced that the fired employees came from both stores and the company’s Springfield headquarters. It also said Bass Pro had added employees at its headquarters since Jan. 1, and the restructuring wouldn’t jeopardize store openings.

Bass Pro spokesman Larry Whiteley wouldn’t say what departments were restructured. He said Bass Pro employs about 13,000 people, but he wouldn’t say how many people worked at headquarters.

Whiteley also dispelled the notion that Bass Pro was responding to a weak economy.

“It has nothing to do with the economy, or we wouldn’t be opening stores,” he said.

Bass Pro has 49 stores after last month’s opening in the Kansas City suburb of Independence; eight others are under development.

See SBJ's March 24 issue for more on this story, including response from fired Bass Pro employees.