LIBERTY, MO (KCTV) -

More than 100 workers at Liberty Hospital are getting their pink slips.

The hospital said in a statement Tuesday that 129 employee positions are being eliminated this week as part of an effort to reduce expenses by $20 million. The layoffs are in a variety of departments including maintenance and nutritional services. Senior managers are also losing their jobs.

Devastated employees, including nurses, left the hospital in tears after collecting their belongings.

Amy Stone worked at Liberty Hospital for eight years, was a charge nurse on her floor. She described herself as extremely sad.

"We all knew today was the day that they were going to do this," she explained. "I thought I was high enough in seniority."

Stone said the hospital should have done more to prepare workers so that they had time to explore other options or provided additional options.

"I'm just betrayed. I've worked faithfully for a company that just turns around and says, 'Sorry.' And they wouldn't even offer me an explanation as to why," Stone said.

Rick Boswell, president of the Liberty Hospital board said the action was taken four months ago after a consultant was brought in to analyze the hospital's finances in a Strategic Performance Improvement Initiative.

"We were looking for ways to lean up without impacting patient care," Boswell said. "Most of the positions are in middle management, jobs we could eliminate without touching patient care, which is our number one priority."

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Liberty Hospital laying off 129 employees, blames Obamacare