Laid-off Bauer HR worker goes to bat for former co-workers

Credit: Jennifer Frew | The News Herald

Former Human Resources Administrator for Bauer Industries, Cindy Foster, speaks to laid-off workers at Granny's Kitchen on Wednesday. Foster distributed final paychecks and explained what will happen with the employee's benefits.

By Sharon Mcbrayer
Published: February 18, 2009

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Former Bauer Industries workers gathered at Granny's Country Kitchen on Wednesday to get what information they could on their remaining pay and benefits after the company left them hanging.
Bauer officials told employees on Friday they had 30 minutes to gather their belongings and retrieve personal items and leave. The company's Hildebran plant manager told employees it was shutting down because the bank had called in the loan, said Sandy Eller, a long-time employee.
"We left there not knowing anything," Eller said.
That's why she is thankful for Cindy Foster, the company's former human resources administrator.
Foster was laid off from the company, located on Cline Park Drive, in January. But her phone started ringing on Friday after the company closed without notice, she said.
Though she was no longer with the company, Foster found out as much information as she could. Foster presented that information to employees at the meeting on Wednesday.
Foster first called the payroll company that Bauer used to see if the last checks were going to be released. She was told they would be so she called the bank the company used to make sure there was enough money in the account to cover the checks.
"They left enough funds in there right down to the penny," Foster said. She picked up those checks on Wednesday morning to distribute them during the meeting. Foster was able to pick up the checks because the company still had her listed as a contact.
Foster also put together a packet that includes information on continuing education, United Way services, insurance for children through the state, reduced prescription cost, consumer credit counseling, food and child-care assistance and employment. The packets also included three references for each employee and a letter of recommendation workers can use when looking for new jobs.
Foster told the workers there's help available.
"Please don't let your pride get in the way," Foster told them.
One of the biggest questions employees had concerned insurance. Because the company's health insurance was dissolved, workers can't carry COBRA insurance. COBRA is a health benefit provision Congress passed in 1986 that allows temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates, according to information from the United States Department of Labor.
Foster said an employee was scheduled to have cataract eye surgery on Wednesday but she had to call him and tell him the $8,000 procedure wouldn't be covered with insurance. Insurance stopped at the end of January, though the company had deducted health insurance premiums for workers' pay for February, Foster said.
The employees want that money back. Foster told the group each one needs to call the N.C. Department of Labor. An employee asked Foster whether they should hire an attorney to get that money back. Foster said there should be an attorney who would take the case free of charge, and she will look into it.
Tena Davis with Aflac insurance company was at the meeting. Workers at the company have had Aflac since 2000, Davis said. Aflac will let them keep their coverage at the same payroll rate, she said. Aflac also is throwing in two months free coverage, Davis said.
After explaining the insurance options, Davis praised Foster for the work she's done, even when she didn't have to.
Foster received a round of applause, and Eller said they wouldn't even have held a meeting if it weren't for Foster.
"She's done an extraordinary job on this," Eller said.
Many of Bauer's employees who weren't working on Friday still have items, including valuable tools, inside the plant. It's unclear whether those employees will be able to retrieve those items, said employees. Bauer has a private security company on the premises.