GRAND RAPIDS -- Steelcase Inc. has warned 300 more factory workers in the Grand Rapids area they may lose their jobs by Feb. 27. Full story »

Kindel Furniture Co. joined a growing trend this week when it announced a four-day workweek for remaining employees. (Press Photo/Katy Batdorff) • Read the story, take a poll • Government employees try alternative schedules • Michigan promises to fix unemployment system Full story »

GRAND RAPIDS -- Slowdowns in housing and consumer spending are driving cutbacks at Kindel Furniture Co., the city's only residential furniture maker. On Monday, company officials told their 130 employees they would lay off 19 full-time and five part-time workers, and go to a four-day work week for everyone else starting this week. "The order volume since October has flattened... Full story »

GRAND RAPIDS -- Crossing the generational divide on the communications front is the focus of a Jan. 15 lunch meeting for the West Michigan chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The event features Ginny Baxter, workplace knowledge consultant for Herman Miller Inc. It begins at 11:30 a.m. at the University Club, 10th Floor, 111 Lyon NW. Cost is... Full story »

GRAND RAPIDS -- A new federal contract for Steelcase Inc. could become one of the largest ever for the Grand Rapids-based office furniture manufacturer. The U.S. Department of Defense deal was one bright spot in a tough third quarter that was mentioned in a conference call with analysts Monday. With a minimum value of $3 million, the contract provides... Full story »

The third quarter was grim for Steelcase Inc., and the outlook for the rest of the year is even darker. Today, the nation's largest office furniture manufacturer said its profits nearly disappeared for its quarter ending Nov. 28, posting a slim $400,000, down from a $31.3 million profit a year ago. • Read the story Full story »

ZEELAND -- High-tech sensors called Motes, able to track office chair occupancy, brought top honors for innovation to Zeeland-based Herman Miller Inc. and Hewlett Packard from the commercial real-estate industry. The space-utilization technology won the two companies the H. Bruce Russell Innovator's Award, topping 10 finalists at the CoreNet Global Summit in Orlando, Fla. The technology, first used to... Full story »

ZEELAND -- Although Herman Miller Inc. executives decided not to try another quarterly forecast Thursday, they did give indications how sluggish their industry is in the economic downturn. In a conference call with analysts, Brian Walker, chief executive officer, said the third quarter is traditionally tough to call. This year, it is nearly impossible. "Our decision to not provide guidance... Full story »

Herman Miller Inc. won't try to forecast its third quarter results, executives told analysts Thursday, because the world economic outlook is just too choppy. • Read the story • Profits drop 20 percent Full story »

Herman Miller Inc.'s second quarter was as bad as forecast, with profits down 20 percent to $32 million and sales off 6 percent to $476.6 million. • Read the story Full story »

ALLEGAN — Office furniture maker Haworth Inc. said today that it isn't considering going back on its decision to close its Allegan seating plant and layoff 200 workers here. Some workers at the River Street plant have talked about offering the company concessions in exchange for keeping the plant open, Haworth spokeswoman Julie Smith said. But no individuals or group... Full story »

In a city with a thriving business for generic drugs, news that Haworth Inc. would close its local chair plant still caused a communal headache. • Read the story Full story »

Office furniture maker Haworth Inc. will close its Allegan seating plant, with 180 to 200 employees, next year and offer voluntary layoffs to other workers. • Read the story Full story »

UPDATE: Haworth to close Allegan plant by summer, cut 350 jobs HOLLAND -- Haworth Inc. will close its Allegan seating plant, with 180 to 200 employees, next year and offer voluntary layoffs to other workers. The office furniture maker is seeking to reduce its work force by an estimated 15 percent, or about 350 employees, according to a source... Full story »

GRAND RAPIDS -- When designers and architects need to envision Steelcase Inc. products, a new WorkLab carved out of the office furniture company's former 44th Street factory will fill the bill. Although the 25,000-square-foot customer consultation and display zone is bigger than Steelcase's new five-showroom space in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, it's just a small cog in the... Full story »