Thread regarding Sears layoffs

2oqc - If you have a nearby community college, you might find a program there that you can afford. The majority of jobs that ask for a degree don't really care if it's 4-year or 2-year, and often don't even really care what the field of the degree is, just that you were able to complete it.

After having read everything so far in this thread. It's nice to see a productive and somewhat civil discussion for a change. It seemed like it was going downhill in the beginning and it looks like everyone is just expressing how they feel.

Everyone looks at part-time jobs differently. Everyone feels differently when they don't get more hours. In general, retail jobs aren't meant to last forever. Most are filled with college kids who need the cash and something to keep them occupied or to take their minds off school. Others who are older need another job to scrape by or for spending money.

Every situation is different and I hope there are people on here who respect that. And understand that.

I will take a college degree in a heart beat. Worked at Sears for over 18 years, and no college degree. Where will I go to work next? Store closed downed in 2017. Hopefully I will find something when my unemployment is up. Thankfully my living expenses are low, my house is paid off. Husband has a job, health care is the biggest expense. No new cars, my car is 10 years old. Not ready to retire, just want to find a good job with benefits. Sears maybe a piece of a job, but at least it is a job.

Once again it is a gig economy. People get $40 a week from Sears another $100 from, say Target and another $120 from somewhere else and they scrape by. Then the government likes to say that there is no unemployment. People are working but they are working several jobs for little pay and no benefits. That is what it is like for the working class. It must seem strange to the corporate folks but that is life in America for many people. A college degree doesn't always solve the problem since today, college is more like an extension of high school and a 4 year degree is nothing special and a dime a dozen. Grocery prices are high, rent and housing are rising yet wages are stagnant and interest rates at the bank are almost non existent, therefore their money isn't growing. Working class people do not invest much in the market as they cannot afford to ride out the lows. The gap between rich and poor is widening and will continue until people say enough. Boards like this are good because it exposes the exorbitant greed that exists in our country.

If you're getting 3 hours a week you might as well quit to be honest. It's not like your paycheck is significant anyway. At that point it isn't even worth complaining about if you're only getting $40 every two weeks. Just get another job with that energy. That's an absolute no brainer for me.

I quit my corporate job right before Thanksgiving. The department even asked me to quit after the holidays so that I can support them. I rather spend my time with my family than to work during Thanksgiving. I will do it again.

The point of value here is don't expect Sears to do anything to mitigate this whether out of caring or because it will improve the business. Sears' vision is tied to one man's emotional and psychological journey. What you need to do is realizing this, decide what direction it is in your best interest to take. If it's best for you to stay given that this is probably not going to change, stay. If it's in your best interest to stay and sacrifice time to look for another job, do that. If it's in your best interest to quit, quit. Taking the information you have, make an informed decision.

Wow...you really are getting me wrong so I won't say anything further other than to say there are many of us who care. What do you think I can possibly do to change your amount of hours? I bring up store concerns all the time, and what I have been told I can do is go work in my local store once a month which is what I do. I hustle and work hard for the day and go back and do my regular job. I am no less disposable than anyone else. And before everyone jumps all over me, trust me I respect the associates in the store. I think they know that. I take "member complaints." I sweat, I get dirty, I wipe off the bathroom sinks each time I go in there....everything I did when I actually worked in a store full time. I don't mean to diminish any of the complaints....I wouldn't like having only 3-6 hours a week either (although I have in a part time job in the past). So my only thing to say is despite what is thought there are many of us who do care in corporate. I am not saying "give us a gold medal" for caring but just to let you know that we do care. We just can do a little at a time in our own way. I can't go in and tell anyone that everyone that is part time should minimally have 20-30 hours per week. It doesn't go anywhere. What I can do and I will do is work in the stores over the holidays to help out. And I am already in a Sears store every Thanksgiving when it opens, so if they need/want me to help out on Thanksgiving day I will be at my local store. That is what I can do and will do. My local store knows that and will know who I am.

sorry Gek, 6 hours a week is not a part time job. It is a chore you did and got a few bucks for it.

Exactly INHK,

The poster 1ago really just confirmed that corporate thinks, "it is just a part time job don't do anything about it." Because they don't care about the low level employee working the part time job. It is not worth their care or concern. The people are disposable and to be used. So why is there such shock and confusion at the anger from employees at the store level towards corporate. I don't believe any of them(at corporate) care about anything except for their own paychecks.

Everyone's definition of part time is different. I had a part time job growing up where I worked 6 hours a week at one point. I think the issue is for those who need/want more hours. But part time can virtually be any amount of hours a week or even every other week.

"Does it make me feel bad to hear that associates are only getting 3-10 hours per week. Of course it does. But if I question that, I am told it is a part time job."

"3 hours a week is not a part time job!!!"

This illustrates my point below (1nhk post). It's obvious that it makes no sense for either employee quality of work/satisfaction or running a business to hire a bunch of people to work 3-10 hours per week. The response was that it is a part time job, not to do anything about it. The focus is not on running the business. The focus is on whatever Eddie wants it to be, whether it is realistic or not.

This article gives a good description of what is going on at corporate: http://www.businessinsider.com/sears-failing-stores-closing-edward-lampert-bankruptcy-chances-2017-1

"Does it make me feel bad to hear that associates are only getting 3-10 hours per week. Of course it does. But if I question that, I am told it is a part time job."

3 hours a week is not a part time job!!!

3 hours a week is a place holder for Sears. It means they have a person if they need them especially at the holidays. There are many people in my local Sears who are working 3 hours a week and some weeks they are not even on the schedule. Some are getting 7 or 8 hours, some 10. Then they just hired another 15 part time employees. It is hard to believe that this company cares about anyone except for top execs that are receiving million dollar sign on bonuses, salaries that are hard to justify and large severance packages. Eddie cares only for Eddie and his circle of friends, all else be damned.

Not true. There are those of us at corporate who do care. Most of us just don't have anything to do with store hours. Many of us work on the weekends, on holidays, etc. No it isn't the same as working in the stores. I am not making that comparison. No I can't understand the way the hours work in the stores. Does it make me feel bad to hear that associates are only getting 3-10 hours per week. Of course it does. But if I question that, I am told it is a part time job.

And yes we are focused on trying to turn our business around at least as best as we can....just like most of the associates in the stores are the type of people who want to do a good job. That is human nature. There are a lot of really good people that still work in the corporate offices just as there are a lot of really good people working in the stores. Many of us are working hard trying to make things better, but it takes time. Do I know if things will get better? No. Do I believe at least trying. Yes. Feel free to say whatever you want....but to make a blanket statement that most are just working until they find another job isn't completely true.

I just left corporate recently. At this point I don't think anybody cares about anything over there except keeping their job until they can find another one. They are not saving money, nobody is focused any longer on running a business. The people that did either left or are keeping their head down working on things they know make no sense and will not benefit the company in any way so they can get paid. That's it. Nothing is even tied to quality of work, it's all appearances - whatever will save the person in charge for a little longer. So there is no concern for anybody - working in the stores or not. I recommend you take that extra time each day to do the frustrating process of looking for another job. Don't expect any improvements from Sears any time soon. Get out while you can. Also don't expect good work or sacrifice of time to mean anything. It doesn't mean anything at corporate either.

For the people that don't like reading how the real people feel about how they are being treated by sears and the SGM in their building, i say go on pebble it's all sunshine and rainbows allowed on that site.

We all know most of the corporate workes have nothing to do with the state of sears, but don't come on here and compare what is going on, those folks get to eat thanksgiving dinner with their family's, national holidays off, plan a weekend trip with loved ones, sears cares nothing for the people working at the retail level, we are scum to be washed off their feet as they walk into their homes

A thread titled "A Time to Quit" most likely will be about frustrated employees who have had enough and feel as though it is "time to quit" Which means they are probably quitting or looking for another job and are in the process of quitting. If a reader doesn't wish to hear about the frustrations of employees who feel it is "time to quit" as the thread is appropriately titled then they should probably avoid reading the thread. Seems to make sense to me.

I think most have already moved on or are in the process of trying to. In the meantime they are welcome to publicly state how awful Sears is treating them or has treated them in the past. Eventually everyone gets to have their say even though Sears probably doesn't like it. It is really annoying when people read the boards and then complain and comment that posters shouldn't post their experiences because it is too negative for their fragile psyche. If you do not want to read anything negative about Sears then stay off the board or be selective as to which topics you choose to read. Then you will not be offended.

Wow,a lot of unhappy people on this post. Man, if you are not happy, just move on. I did and it's the best thing I ever did. Just look@1ppy post, he got it right.

There is a wise saying...you never work for the company you work for yourself.

I know that for the most part rank and file employees and middle managers at HQ don't have much of a say of how the company is run nor are they directly responsible for the failure of the company.

Hopefully others understand this too. Most of the be should be laid with most of the VP/exec team. They will get their golden parachute when we lose the final round. Everyone else would be very lucky to see a severance. Look at Sears Canada.

Meanwhile, they come up with all of these grand plans to "save the company" that are out of touch with reality, create confusion, stress, and chaos, worsening the cash burn in the process.

I find whenever someone from corporate posts it tends to be helpful to some degree, invariably the corporate poster is attacked by a swathe of store employees with raw evil "we all celebrate when corporate has layoffs". When you complain about layoffs and poor conditions in stores why would you celebrate and wish that happening to people like yourselves (there are underpaid and overworked corporate workers too you know?) Go ahead, you can attack me now...

You are right. I am in a different spot although there has been no 401k match since 2005 and no bonuses since maybe 2010...all I can say is I am not necessarily seeing the same thing in the store I go to....there are definitely part time associates who are getting 30+ hours. I ask them myself as I read what is on here and am curious. I would not like what you are describing either and no it doesn't sound fair.

Yeah, I have worked retail over 20 years as it suited my family and Sears/Kmart is the only one that cuts to the bone after Feb. Other retail stores cut to 15-20 a week for the slow after Holiday season. Who would stay for one 3-4 hour shift a week? For months on end?

Oh yes, and after you spend over an hour doing their stupid tests and applications on the computer you go into the store to speak to the manager about your application and some fat greasy slime ball barely gives you the time of day and gruffly tells you they have nothing and reapply in a couple of months as though your time is totally meaningless.

For the lucky ones who actually got hired for the 3 hours a week and will now have to give up their entire holiday season for a couple a thousand dollars a year will also have to endure the insulting comments from Leena Munjul who tells the public to not feel sorry for the Sears employees as they are volunteers and want to work on Thanksgiving night to serve you instead of serving their children and guests a turkey dinner from the comforts of their home.

Well Leena......most Sears employees want to be home with their children, spouses or elderly parents on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. They are not volunteers, they have been threatened with job loss if they do not work and the public should know that. Please do not be so condescending and give public statements to that affect.

The first person that commented is why there is such a disconnect between the employees at the store level versus employees in corporate. I'm not sure if you (oqj) realize or not but many employees have been cut to as little as 3-10 hours a week from Jan through Oct. Then they are told that they need to keep their schedules open in October and they are now in the "no time off request" period for Nov, Dec, and mid Jan.

We all get that retail is busy for the holidays and people are willing to work it when they feel they are being treated fairly. However, Sears will abuse an employee's time for 2 months out of the year, taking them away from their families during holidays and special times, threatening them with firings if they disobey and then cut their hours back as soon as Sear's needs are taken care of after the holidays. Well, this is one of the reasons why unions were formed to prevent corporations from being so blatantly unfair and disgustingly greedy at the expense of the worker.

It is a whole different story for people who are working the holidays and get compensated fairly for it. If you, oqj are working on a holiday and you are receiving a decent salary, a 401k plan, any other benefits to include paid holidays, raises, bonuses, etc then you really do not understand the situation for many other employees who are being used for holidays. An employee cut down to 10 hours a week at 52 weeks at a minimum wage of $8.10 in my state comes to $4,212 per year. Then they are expected to give up their whole holiday season for this small amount money. We all get it ER docs work, nurses work, police work yada, yada, yada those jobs pay them raises, bonuses, decent salaries etc. That is a different ball game. I understand retail workers are not as skilled and do not demand that level of pay but they shouldn't be taken advantage of either like not paying holiday pay after midnight, no raises, hours that get cut to 3-10 per week the other 10 months of the year etc.

Now comes the...."Well why don't you leave or get a college education," comments. well, many employees in this situation do have college degrees Many are underemployed with college debt. If you have a college degree and have a good paying job then be grateful. "For the grace of God go I" because it could be you next. Most in this situation have other jobs, sometime 2 other jobs. Many folks are working 2 and 3 jobs to make ends meet. We are now in what you call a gig economy meaning people have a few gigs going to pay the bills but nothing substantial. Businesses do not want to pay bennies and health care. Getting a new job is a job in and of itself. Employers, for minimum wage, want professional resumes, pysch tests, several interviews with various supervisors, drug testing multiple references and tests taken on the computer. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete a job app for a minimum wage job that scrutinizes one as if they are applying for a 6 figure salary with the FBI. Switching and finding jobs are not that easy and very time consuming. But people are doing it, playing the game and persevering. It still doesn't excuse the rotten treatment that companies are dishing out.

Leave this person alone. Retail jobs are called entry-level for a reason it's not meant to be a lifelong career. So again leave this corporate person alone and go work improving your own situation or do all just want to hand out.

Hey I got it. Not saying I understand completely your work schedule as I haven't worked in the stores for years, but I work every holiday....I am on call every holiday...checking pricing overnight etc. Many of the buyers are on call/working every holiday. Not comparing once again, but I check my emails multiple times a day when I am off and over the weekends.

How dare you say anything if you work at the corporate level, when's the last holiday you worked, and possibly a weekend ... i agree with the cheers when corporate gets the boot, ever go on pepple and scroll down the list of these folks with title's that mean who knows managers of managers of the manager come on .

And by the way I am sorry as I never thought my comment would be taken how it was taken......

Wow that was taken out of context. I do understand the reduced hours and don't agree with it but as someone said I am a "low level" corporate associate who doesn't have any control over store hours. I was just making the comment that retail is notoriously bad around the holidays...didn't mean it to lead to where it went.

@hzm- no. (S)he's talking about the asinine first comment here.

@fhb You're talking about the execs who have golden parachutes and incentive packages. Most of the corporate drones are just that - low-level employees with little control over the general direction SHC is going. They're just working until they're told not to.

The "good-ole" boys (and wanna be boys .... meaning the girls) at Sears corporate could care less about your dwindling hours. Similarly, they could care less about when (or if) you'll be providing more hours when a the holidays arrive. The "good ole" boys will continue their ridiculous spin of "increased profitability" and "we'll turn this around and be successful" dribble, all the while attempting to line up their own golden parachute.

Some negativity, here? Of course. Some reality, here? Of course.

Bail out from Sears. Your chute will open !

Not a fair comparison and totally insulting is right, almost like this corporate imbecile is from another planet and hasn't a clue as to what store associates go through.. No wonder so many store associates cheer when corporate layoffs occur. The great majority of them are worthless anyway.

@oqj- honestly not a fair comparison. Insulting, actually. Some of the part-time store associates are only given 10 hours a week, but we still expect them to be available for 30 or more during the holidays.

You always work more around the holidays in the stores as it is retail. It doesnt make it right, but that is retail. I know some of us in corporate work more too around the holidays.....on call and out in the stores on Thanksgiving and the same thing around Christmas.