Dear Friends, It is time for us all to face the facts. Lowe's is no longer the employer it once was. You are not now or in the future going to be valued for your hard work, knowledge, commitment or loyalty. This might be a good forum for venting your heartache, disappointment and hardship but at the end of the day, it simply doesn't matter. I think we all need to accept the reality of the situation with Lowe's and move on. It is difficult to walk away from something that you have toiled over and have lost hundreds of quality of life moments simply because we believed it mattered in some way. We have sacrificed our time, families, friendships and personal responsibilities in order to work this ridiculous corporate schedule and with enormous resulting stress due to inadequate staffing and equal commitment by our coworkers. You can't assume that you/we were impervious to the drastically changing condition of the retail industry. Don't get me wrong, I am as sad and utterly disappointed as each if you and all. I need health insurance and a competitive wage. It's simply time to understand that we are not valued full time employees and we will likely be terminated. Find the strength and courage within to let this go and move on. If not, you will lose far more than just a job. Love and Blessings to us all.
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Lowe's was attractive as an employer because the pay was above the retail industry standard. Working conditions could be harsh and long time employees bitter, but it was consolation. Lowe's had stability and security. Those days are no more. The bitter employees and corporate greed are making the company eat itself alive. Every change they make backfires. They are taking a huge load and overfilling everyone's plates to the point that employees are overwhelmed. Management is putting more and more pressure on salesman and expecting to squeeze more sales out each year.Efficiency is key in a lot of positions and the amount of multitasking is ridiculous because of the shift in responsibilities. Lowe's culture is one where you need thick skin. I have literally had an employee in my office in tears having a mini nervous breakdown having to leave and go to the Dr. to get diagnosed with major depressive disorder and get perscribed prozac. The young lady was in her 20's left the company and went off medication. Lowe's systematically get's into their full time employee's psyche and makes them hopeless and codependent. Now they are taking thier sheep to the butcher so to speak by laying off and cutting off employees/families that have dedicated years of their lives. Blood, Sweat and Tears. Yes, it is a shame.
10 years with LOWES' and previous 16 years in private plumbing business...the last 4 - 5 have been a ridiculous round of "changes" and the last one - swung full circle to the "there's no I in TEAM" rhetoric - thats' when I was sure the whole thing was a major load of B.S. - at 61 I can only hope to still have a job until early retirement, but I'm not holding my breath....I was, some years ago, a Dept. Mgr., and so my pay scale is higher than most....MAJOR target on my back, and seeing the disasters that have happened in the PSI program here, I am seriously reluctant to push that s--t show. We have some people who have been with LOWES' for much longer at our store and they are seriously feeling the stress of being lopped off at the ankles by corporate and thrown onto the H.R. trash heap......
Yes, to all. Lowes is chasing it's corporate tail and will suffer for it in the end..( no pun intended!) Sadly, helping people "love where they live" was just another motivational piece of trash used by Lowes to increase sales, fool the public and lead it's employees to the slaughter like lambs. Customers are not stupid and given what happened to sales the last phase of the "evolution", you bet your sweet behind that Lowe's is in for the downhill race of a lifetime. I think that the employees-store wide-should actually get the media more involved in what is REALLY going on . It would make a great human interest story and quite possibly, create enough damage to Corporate they the government steps. Maybe if Lowes loses their eligibility for the tax write-offs and other payouts for such "restructuring" programs provided by the government, they would actually get back to the business of being a business. Our government makes it too easy for companies like Lowes and Home Depot to cheat and steal their way to the top.
About 3 years ago Lowe's start looking for new CEO that brings fresh ideas and grow sales ,Mr Niblock is aware of this and he desperate try to produce numbers and increase stock , The cuts reducing operational expenses at the store levels so he things he can make stock price climb to $100.00 by the end of the year when he finalize all the job cuts , The man try to keep his job and he is careless about the store employees . He is the biggest liar ever run Lowe's corporate .He doesn't care about customers or communities is just hes glory speech every time .... The bid goes on Lowe's all ready has a market and customer so he thinks customer are going to still shop don't matter what . so he is preparing store to a model with minimum staff. is like make up number for share holders but eventually everything is going to fall
Sell your Lowes stock now!
I agree, well stated.
Finally found a post worth reading! Hats off to you!
It's tough! But it is what it is!
Stand up and don't allow corporate choices dictate your opinion of yourself or future!
I understand that Lowe's is changing it's name to L-mart. The goal is to take over K-marts place. It's the only thing that makes sense.
I am new to the company but a great deal of experience dealing w/ corporate business and strategy. I have warned my long term (10+ years) coworkers of what was ahead.. like a sinking ship.. Lowe's is chasing a rabbit Home Depot already owns.. Specialty and knowledge is what made Lowe's what it was.. not chasing a stock price by running solely off labor budget.. I give Lowes 3 years max before it dissolves...like Circuit City... its very sad reality to all those who have dedicated their lives to a company who simply doesnt care anymore.
I am currently a 17 year veteran and Sales Specialist at Lowe's. It has been a hard process coming to grips with this new reality. I too share your view of our situation and want to thank you for your thoughtful post and encourage all of my comrades to take the high road and heed your good advice. Good luck and God bless us all.
PS. Explore your true passions, talents, interests and spirit. Some wonderful opportunities in your life may just lead to an incredible future. I certainly know I have to rethink things and act swiftly. we are a talented bunch of people with a whole lot to gain by putting ourselves first!