Does everyone realize there is a JCP the Layoff, Kohls the Layoff, Macys the Layoff, Walmart the Layoff. I was curious as truthfully I read these posts and sometimes comment because I think it's all sad. It appears so many are unhappy, yes sometimes due to a bad Store Manager or something like that, but I always think why don't they do something to make themselves happy. I understand it's not so easy if you need to stay at a job, but if you are really that miserable why stay? So then I read the other posts and it's all the same. I personally think the retail business is a fun business, but we all know other than the stores managers store associates aren't paid well at most retailers. I say most because i am sure there are some specialty stores where the pay is good. I think if/when you are having a really bad day, read some of the other posts as well such as Walmart the Layoff, etc. Maybe it will help in some way to realize the issues with retail are pretty much the same across the board and for those who have done this job for a while yes things have changed.....hours are worse, much smaller staffs, many customers are tricky to deal with, pay raises are no longer given unless a promotion is earned, etc, etc.
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"The reason is that wages and mid level salaries are not keeping up with the cost of living."
Which, incidentally, is also the reason so many retailers are struggling.
The reality is MOST people hate their jobs nowadays no matter what sector they are working. The reason is that wages and mid level salaries are not keeping up with the cost of living. People are not getting decent interest rates on their savings and through crony capitalism ( the top 1% in cahoots with government) taking care of each other through regulations that allow the rich to get richer and the working and middle class to be held down and subservient to employers, people are overworked and stressed trying to meet metrics, various demands by doing more with less and they are frustrated, tired and just plain miserable.
I am also a teacher. Teachers are miserable and most want out as well. The talk is just as negative. The government is too involved and teachers are just education workers, not professionals. They are nothing more than drones carrying out orders. Their hands are tied, kids rule the school, there is intense pressure for excellent test scores from kids who don't care, and the level of documentation and paperwork is overbearing.
Ask a nurse or doctor about healthcare. They are just as miserable in their system as well. My sis is an auditor in the healthcare industry where they are constantly laying off staff and workers asked to do more with less. They are miserable as well. In other jobs it is all about sales, sales, sales and meeting impossible metrics. Meanwhile corporations and execs are making record level profits and salaries.
The workplace has changed and people are stressed and miserable where ever they are and I don't really see any greener pastures.
So yes, read other posts from different companies and it is all the same and not just from retail companies.
I do think Sears though is at the bottom of the barrel in how they treat employees due to no raises, minimum wages, no perks, parties, bonuses etc. Eddie does seem to be extremely greedy and nasty, imo.
I have occasionally looked at some of the other retailers' sections here. What I remember noticing is that the volume/frequency of posts is much higher in the Sears section than in other retailers'. Like, it takes 5 months of activity to fill up their front page, vs only 5 days to fill up the Sears front page. There are some unhappy/concerned people at every company, but it's a small fraction of the percent of people at Sears who are unhappy/concerned.
@uvd Take a look at Walmart the Layoff......folks aren't happy there either at all or JCP the Layoff.
What about Dollar General? That chain I think is still doing really well, but would you want to work there? Of course I get it yes if the hourly wage was more.
No kidding people are unhappy. Retail is collapsing everywhere and many, many are losing their jobs or losing working hours. Apparently this hasn't hit you yet, but when it does, you might understand what's going on.
You seem to assume everyone is working and making money. Wrong.
I agree, retail s---s in general. But when you work for the bottom of the sh-- pile, which is both Sears and Kmart, people tend to want to vent more.