DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-93,576

ANN TAYLOR, INC.
A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
HUMAN RESOURCES AND FINANCE SUPPORT SERVICES UNITS
MILFORD, CONNECTICUT

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance
In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm under
Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are satisfied if the
following criteria are met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm have become totally or partially separated,
or are threatened to become totally or partially separated;
(2)(B)(i)(I) there has been a shift by the workers' firm to a
foreign country in the production of articles or supply of
services like or directly competitive with those
produced/supplied by the workers' firm; OR
(II) there has been an acquisition from a
foreign country by the workers' firm of
articles/services that are like or directly
competitive with those produced/supplied by
the workers' firm; AND
(ii) the shift/acquisition must have contributed
importantly to the workers' separation or threat
of separation.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed
on February 23, 2018 by a state workforce office on behalf of workers
of Ann Taylor, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascena Retail
Group, Inc., Human Resources and Finance Support Services Units,
Milford, Connecticut (Ann Taylor-Human Resources and Finance
Support Services). Ann Taylor, Inc. is engaged in activities
related to the design and manufacturing of women's apparel. Workers
of Ann Taylor-Human Resources and Finance Support Services are
engaged in activities related to the supply of human resources and
finance support services.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant number or
proportion of the workers in Ann Taylor-Human Resources and Finance
Support Services have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated.
Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the workers' firm has
acquired from a foreign country the supply of services like or
directly competitive with the human resources and finance support
services provided by the subject workers, which contributed
importantly to worker group separations at Ann Taylor-Human Resources
and Finance Support Services.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation,
I determine that workers of Ann Taylor-Human Resources and Finance
Support Services, who are engaged in activities related to the supply
of human resources and finance support services, meet the worker
group certification criteria under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19
U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with Section 223 of the Act, 19
U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Ann Taylor, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Ascena Retail Group, Inc., Human Resources and Finance Support
Services Units, Milford, Connecticut, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after February 23,
2017 through two years from the date of certification, and all
workers in the group threatened with total or partial separation
from employment on the date of certification through two years
from the date of certification, are eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade
Act of 1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 30th day of March 2018.

/s/Del Min Amy Chen
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance