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BREC announces 10% of employees will be let go as it works toward 'more efficient organization'
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BATON ROUGE — BREC announced on Friday that 10% of its workforce would be losing their jobs as it works towards becoming a "more efficient organization."
According to BREC, the initiative is designed to ensure taxpayer dollars are utilized in the most effective way possible.
Following a review of its workforce, the 10% reduction was based on roles being deemed by the company as "least necessary."
The review also may lead to changes to staffing and organizational structure to realign roles to address critical needs.
BREC stated that during this time period, they have put a "temporary pause on hiring for all non-critical positions" as they assess organizational needs, structure, and efficiency.
In addition to its workforce review, BREC is evaluating its retirement offerings, aiming to support a diverse workforce while addressing the rising costs of employee benefits.
"These decisions are not easy, and they are not taken lightly," Interim Superintendent Janet Simmons said. "This initiative is about being thoughtful, responsible stewards of public resources while positioning BREC for long-term success. By working smarter and more intentionally today, we are ensuring we can continue delivering the parks, programs, and services our community depends on tomorrow."
State Representative Dixon McMakin is one of the lawmakers in the state who has been pushing for reform at the Baton Rouge park system. Last year, he authored a pair of bills aimed at BREC; lawmakers passed the first legislation reshaping the parks' board of commissioners. A second bill that would have given the city-parish more oversight over BREC failed to make it out of committee.
"The idea was not do the same thing they've been doing all these years, and so now a new board has come in there. They're making these changes. These are drastic changes. More still can be done, but at least this is a start for BREC, and I hope they'll continue to do more," McMakin said.
When WBRZ asked BREC exactly how many people would be affected and what positions they are looking to lay off, it said it would refrain from providing information about any specific staff at this time in order to "respect their privacy".
"The Superintendent is executing a strategic review of positions to ensure BREC is aligned for effective service delivery and long-term operational efficiency. This process is focused on organizational structure—not on a fixed headcount. Structured desk audits will be conducted immediately
A source close to BREC told us that 10 employees have already been laid off from several departments, including BREC on the Geaux, Park Operations, Maintenance, and a part-time employee.
BREC currently employs more than 1,000 individuals, according to their 2024 budget.
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