Pepsi Is Laying Off Up to 100 Workers in Philadelphia and Blaming a 2-Month-Old Soda Tax Posted by March 2, 2017 Leave a comment on Pepsi Is Laying Off Up to 100 Workers in Philadelphia and Blaming a 2-Month-Old Soda Tax The layoffs, which account for roughly 20 percent of Pepsi’s 423 Philadelphia employees, will begin Wednesday and be spread out over the next few months.