Pico Rivera Walmart temporarily closes; workers to relocate

PICO RIVERA, Calif. (KABC) -- Walmart workers at a Pico Rivera store may be searching for new jobs as plumbing problems force the location to temporarily shut down.

Displaced employees will be given 60 days to find another employment opportunity within the company. During that time, they will receive regular pay and benefits, a company spokeswoman said.

If they do not find a position, they may be eligible for severance, she added.

Jose Mendoza says he has worked at the Walmart store for eight years and is worried he might not be able to stay with the retail chain.

"It's very hard for me to believe we're all going to be able to be placed somewhere the way the economy is right now, so maybe I should consider that I'm not going to have a job with Walmart," Mendoza said.

About 10 to 12 Walmart stores neighbor the Pico Rivera branch, which was opened in 2002 and expanded in 2007.

The plumbing requires extensive repairs and the store is expected to reopen as soon as everything is resolved, the company said in a statement.

"Deciding to close a store is not a decision we make lightly, but after careful consideration, we felt it was necessary to make these repairs so we can better serve our customers and the community in the long run," the statement said.