Fort Myers-based Chico’s lays off 49 employees in latest round of restructuring

Fort Myers based clothing retailer Chico’s FAS has made another round of layoffs in what the company calls “new strategic priorities.”

185 employees were laid off in 2015 and another 100 in 2016. However, Chico’s says they are adding jobs in ‘key growth areas.’

Chico’s FAS said in a statement:

“Our new strategic priorities are designed to drive strong sales across all our brands, which we will discuss further when we report third-quarter results this month. As part of our work to position Chico’s FAS for future success, we are adding to our team in key growth areas, including product, digital and customer experience.

“We also made the difficult decision to reduce positions in other areas where we can operate efficiently with fewer resources. We’re supporting these 49 associates with severance, extended health benefits, and outplacement services. It’s important to know that we will continue to make investments in our business and our team and hiring in areas that support our strategic goals.”