A retailer of active wear, Outdoor Voices intends to go online

Popular sportswear retailer Outdoor Voices plans to close its 16 locations. Employees who were taken aback by their dismissal, without notice or payment, confirmed the news.

Employees who were let go this week claim that Outdoor Voices, which was once a retail darling for its in-demand sportswear, is unexpectedly closing all of its locations on Sunday.

Employees from all 16 of Outdoor Voices' sites in Austin have informed news organizations, such as Axios and The New York Times, that the company will be closing. Three former workers told the media about their experiences. When retail teams received an internal Slack message on Tuesday informing them that Outdoor Voices is starting a new chapter as they move toward being an entirely online firm, many employees reacted with astonishment, according to the Times.

According to the Times, the notice stated that all stores would close by the end of the day on Sunday and that merchandise would be sold at a 50% discount. Employee statements and reports provided to the media indicate that a small percentage of corporate and retail employees received severance or other benefits. A $500 incentive was given to store managers to continue working through the weekend. Shop managers received a $500 stay offer for the entire weekend.

An employee told the media that while some accepted, many declined, and that it seemed like a complete slap in the face. A worker informed the media late on Thursday that some full-time employees were now receiving severance pay as a result of criticism.