The City of Hollister announced at least 37 layoffs on Oct. 14 after the City Council adopted a state of financial emergency on Oct. 2. The notices affected police, public works, finance, parks and recreation, fire, and airport roles.
If you received a notice, focus first on your pay, benefits, and employment records. Then turn your public-sector experience into clear skills that other employers understand. Build a short list of relevant organizations, confirm which ones have current openings, and contact the manager responsible for each role.
What happened in the City of Hollister layoffs
The Hollister city layoffs followed the council's declaration of a financial emergency. Affected employees were placed on paid administrative leave through Nov. 13.
Administrative leave and a layoff notice are not always the final word on a person's work schedule. Some employees may be asked to return temporarily while the city manages staffing needs. Your latest written notice should explain whether you must report to work, remain on leave, or complete another step.
Keep copies of every notice, pay record, benefits document, and message about your status. Save personal copies outside your work account, but do not take confidential city records or protected information.
If instructions conflict, ask for clarification in writing. You can also speak with your union representative, if applicable, about deadlines, return-to-work requests, benefits, and rights under a labor agreement.
Which Hollister employees and police roles were affected
The announced Hollister employee layoffs included jobs in public works, finance, parks and recreation, fire, and the airport. Sixteen SEIU Local 521 members were identified for layoffs.
Eight nonsworn police employees were also identified. Because these were nonsworn positions, the available information does not establish that sworn police officer jobs were part of that group. The exact duties of each affected police employee were not stated.
Laid-off police department employees were later asked to return to work temporarily. That request may address an immediate staffing need, but it does not by itself show that the Hollister police layoffs were canceled.
If you are affected, keep the original notice and the temporary return request together. Confirm your reporting date, pay status, schedule, and whether the return changes your layoff date. Ask for written answers so you have a clear employment record.
Why the city announced employee layoffs
The City Council adopted a state of financial emergency on Oct. 2. The city has about $50 million for general services, while expenses are near $60 million. The layoffs were announced as the city faced that financial gap.
A fiscal emergency can lead a city to review staffing, services, contracts, and other expenses. It does not mean every department or employee will be treated in the same way. Operational needs can also cause a department to bring employees back temporarily even after sending notices.
For your job plans, focus on what is confirmed in writing rather than trying to predict the city's next decision. A temporary return can provide income and more time to prepare, but you can continue building outside options unless the city formally withdraws your notice.
What to do immediately after a layoff
Knowing what to do after a layoff can make the first week more manageable. Start with your records and immediate needs, then move into focused job outreach.
During the first two days
- Save your layoff notice, pay records, benefits information, and return-to-work messages.
- Review instructions about final pay, health coverage, retirement accounts, and unemployment benefits.
- Write down your job title, employment dates, major duties, certifications, and completed projects.
- Ask trusted coworkers for personal contact information if you want to stay connected.
During days three and four
Translate government duties into skills other employers recognize. Public works experience may include maintenance planning, inspections, safety, purchasing, or contractor coordination. Finance work may include account review, reporting, reconciliation, or budget support. Parks, fire support, airport, and nonsworn police work may involve scheduling, records, public service, compliance, or emergency coordination.
During days five through seven
Create a short list of roles that fit those skills. Prepare a brief message for the manager responsible for each type of work instead of relying only on an application.
You can sign up to organize a more direct job search when you are ready to identify relevant contacts and plan your outreach.
How to find companies hiring near Hollister
Do not assume an organization is hiring because it operates nearby. Confirm that each opening is current and that its location, schedule, duties, and requirements work for you.
When looking for companies hiring near Hollister, consider more than private businesses. Your experience may also fit county agencies, nearby cities, schools, utilities, health care organizations, community services, transportation operations, construction contractors, or facilities groups.
Build your target list around duties, not just job titles. A city title may have a different name elsewhere. For example, records work may appear under administration, compliance, operations support, or document control. Maintenance planning may appear under facilities or field operations.
For each possible employer:
- Check its current openings directly.
- Compare the listed duties with work you have already done.
- Note the department that owns the role.
- Identify one manager connected to that department.
- Prepare one reason your experience could help that group.
A smaller, relevant list is more useful than contacting many organizations with the same general message.
How to contact hiring managers this week
To learn how to contact a hiring manager, start with the department rather than a person's title. Review the opening, organization directory, department page, and public staff information. If the manager is not listed, call the organization's main number and ask which role oversees the function.
Your first email should be short. Include:
- A subject line that names your area of experience.
- One sentence explaining your recent public-sector role.
- One or two skills that match the department's work.
- A clear reference to a current opening, if one exists.
- A polite request for a brief conversation.
Avoid sending your full career story. A manager should be able to understand your background and reason for writing within a few lines. If you applied already, mention the role and application date. Send one brief follow-up if you do not receive a reply, then continue with other contacts.
If you want a structured way to find the right person and make direct contact, sign up for Always First AI. You can use it to focus your effort on relevant hiring managers while keeping each message tied to your real skills and experience.
Frequently asked questions
How many City of Hollister employees were laid off?
The city announced at least 37 layoffs on Oct. 14. Affected employees were placed on paid administrative leave through Nov. 13. Because some police department employees were asked to return temporarily, each employee should check the latest written notice for their current work status.
Which Hollister departments and police roles were affected?
The layoffs included roles in public works, finance, parks and recreation, fire, and the airport. Eight nonsworn police employees and sixteen SEIU Local 521 members were identified for layoffs. The available information does not specify every individual title or duty.
Are the Hollister layoffs permanent or are employees returning to work?
Laid-off police department employees were asked to return to work temporarily. A temporary return does not necessarily cancel a layoff notice or confirm permanent employment. Affected employees should rely on the latest written direction about their schedule, leave status, pay, and layoff date.