Wondering what Marvin’s doing the weekend after a big layoff? He’s golfing. I opened this morning in my store to my Spawn of Satan SM running everyone ragged like a lunatic to get the store clean, “why?” I asked him. “Because Marvin is coming either Sunday or Monday!” He said. I asked if this was just a gimmick cause we are always supposed to get visits that never happen, and my manager told me that Sunday and Monday Lowe’s is hosting a charity golf classic here in my hometown of Rochester NY, at one of the most luxurious hotels in town and one of the most exclusive country clubs in the state! As a matter of fact it has hosted the US Open 3 times in its history as well as 10 other major tournaments and is number 20 on Golf Digest’s list of the 100 best golf courses in America.
I went to the website and I was reading the itinerary and I wonder how Marvin or Joe will be able to come to the stores when they are attending the rooftop c—tail and Hors D' Oeuvres reception,or when they are out on the links, or the awards dinner and reception that evening. I just think it is very very bad optics that three days after firing several thousand employees nationwide to cut costs the executive leadership thinks it’s a wise decision to fly the private jets from North Carolina to NY to come to a charity golf outing the company is flipping the bill for and hosting at a exclusive country club and luxury boutique hotel. It really disgusts me. I spent my whole shift being driven like a pack mule by my store manager so that the store looks good so it will be ready for Marvin.
The final nail in the coffin for me is that I was scheduled off for Sunday and at 1:55 with five minutes to go in my shift my SM pulls me in to the office and tells me I have to work Sunday in case Marvin comes in. I told him I have plans Sunday and he informed me that Dept Supervisors should never make plans on days off in case we are needed and having been with Lowe’s 7 years I should know that by now. I find this all so ironic because I love golf, as a matter of fact my Father loves golf, he has since he was a teenager. My Dad told me one the happiest days in his life was the day he took me golfing for the first time so he could share the game with me. Tomorrow is my Dads birthday and since I was off Sunday I already booked us a tee time at the local county course (I’m not a great golfer like my dad, and unlike Marvin neither myself or my father can afford to go to a country club). My Dad was really excited cause we have only gone out 4 times this year and he was really looking forward to a morning with just the 2 of us out on the links. I could hear the disappointment in his voice but he understands that I have to keep my job. 😔
So to all the Lowe’s employees that read this I realize it was more of a personal rant more than anything but keep your eyes out on Lowesnet for a picture of Marvin handing out a big check that we can afford to give away to charity instead of giving it to our employees. And I hope Marvin and Joe enjoy our local hospitality and a great game off golf, I won’t be lucky enough to golf this weekend with my Dad or really celebrate his birthday with him but hey, I gotta keep the money rolling in so Lowe’s can host more big events while me and my coworkers work short staffed to keep Marvin’s money train running. Oh and remember “God Bless”