LUMBERTON, N.C. — Pinebelt Client Services told employees that the 780 positions being eliminated after the loss of a major contract will be phased out by department, rather than ending on a single date, as the state workforce agency arranged on-site assistance sessions at the company’s Lumberton corporate office.

The sessions are expected to connect affected workers with job-search help, résumé support and information on available workforce services while employees wait to learn when their individual departments will be affected. Pinebelt, which has operated for 33 years, has not publicly detailed the departmental schedule.

Paloma Suzuki, an affected worker, said the staggered approach left employees trying to plan around an uncertain timeline. She said the added access to workforce staff was useful, but workers still need clear notice about when their jobs will end.