Hispanic Telephone Specialist ERS Closes

In the US, Hispanic telephone fieldwork company Eastern Research Services (ERS) has been closed down by parent firm Hispania Capital Partners (HCP), leaving an undisclosed number of staff out of work.

Philadelphia-based ERS, which was founded in 1992 by Mike Marcus, Nick Mannino, and Kean Spencer, previously provided telephone interviewing; online surveys; and coding, tabulation and reporting services for MR and political polling.

Prior to its closure, the firm had four call centers including three in the El Paso, Texas area and a fourth near Tampa, Florida, where according to the company's web site, it employed more than 800 'dually-fluent' telephone interviewers.

Earlier today, a source told DRNO that staff were given no warning about the closure, and that the layoffs had happened overnight. According to a report published on Fox-affiliated publication KFOX 14.com, around 150 employees at one of the El Paso call centers found out that they were being made redundant when they went into work yesterday, and were then escorted out of the building by security personnel.

Other employees said when they turned up for work, managers had told them that all ERS offices across the country were closing their doors for good.

A recording on the firm's 'employee hotline' informed staff that the firm had shut down all its offices. 'The company has been losing money for some time and no longer has the ability to continue operating,' the recording continued.

Private equity firm HCP acquired ERS in 2005 for an undisclosed sum, with the declared aim of helping the agency and its sister firm Bilingual Research Services expand their bilingual 'language-of-choice' services, enhance their call center operations, and solidify their working capital structure.

At the time of going to press, staff at HCP have not responded to DRNO's requests for further information.

Web sites: www.easternresearch.com and www.hcpcompany.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.