NON-OFFICE workers with one of Wellington’s biggest companies are going on short-time - possibly until September.

The Wellington Weekly understands that bedding firm Relyon, which employs about 160 shop floor employees and is based at Station Mills, has told workers that short-time working will start on Monday, June 12, because of a downturn in orders compounded by what is the traditional quiet time of year.

The company, which declined to make a statement this week, told workers this is expected to be a temporary measure until new contracts commence later in the year.

The firm told staff it is confident that ’things will ramp up’ in September and the workforce will be working back as normal.

The firm told staff that demand is volatile and therefore communication to the workers will be made on a week-by-week basis - and staff were told they can see the managing director Alan Chapman at any time.

Workers were last on short-time with the company 13 years ago.

The firm was keen to stress to staff that this is a temporary situation, and not permanent.

Founded in 1858 by a Somerset family of wool merchants, the Price Brothers and Co business developed 100 per cent wool mattresses that were of such high quality, they became known as mattresses that you could truly ‘rely-on’ for a good night’s sleep.