Essendant Cuts 644 Jobs; Other Industrials Firms File WARN Notices
Four Industrials employers reported WARN notices or filings between Sept. 9–10, 2026, affecting 778 workers, led by Essendant's 644-job action in Illinois.
Lede
Four employers in the Industrials sector reported workforce reductions tied to WARN notices or state filings during the September 9–10, 2026 reporting window, affecting a combined 778 employees. The largest disclosed action was by Essendant, which reported 644 layoffs in Illinois, per Distribution Strategy Group.
Reported layoffs
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Essendant — 644 employees. Distribution Strategy Group reported that the Illinois Department of Labor has opened an investigation after receiving a complaint related to the state's WARN Act following Essendant's Aug. 3 WARN filings. The filings list planned closures at Essendant's Lincolnshire headquarters and its Carol Stream distribution center with an Oct. 3 layoff date, affecting 510 employees in Lincolnshire and 134 in Carol Stream. The state probe will examine whether appropriate notice and compensation were provided and whether options to avoid the layoffs were pursued; the department has not found a violation. Distribution Strategy Group also noted related federal WARN litigation and the company's efforts to seek additional capital or transactions, as well as broader facility closures and layoffs.
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Kenco Logistic Services, LLC — 52 employees. The reduction was reported in a WARN filing with state regulators, per that filing's disclosure.
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Masonite Corporation d/b/a Owens Corning Doors — 46 employees. A WARN filing with state regulators disclosed the planned cuts.
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SonTek — 36 employees. A WARN filing with state regulators listed this workforce reduction.
Closing
Collectively, the four reported actions account for 778 job cuts disclosed via WARN notices or state filings. Reporting sources for these records include the cited WARN filings with state regulators and Distribution Strategy Group for the Essendant case.