March 2 or 3 more layoffs and consolidation or elimination of those departments that were untouched in this round. March 6 consolidation of HE into fewer buildings and perks eliminated for HE employees, March 7 or so Financial losses announced
Anybody has more info on this? Just a rumor or confirmed?
@2jap If you don't like the location of the headquarters, why do you stay? Must be some reason or you would have moved on by now.
Perks? Can someone elaborate on those perks? No 401K matching, not profit sharing, anyone with a family is on their spouses insurance. We are stuck out in the boondocks and have to drive 5 miles to eat lunch. Yeah, point out the perks?
@2sog The city probably has a rule requiring commercial real estate owners to keep their property to a certain level of maintenance even when unoccupied. It does seem unlikely that they'd still be doing so voluntarily for over a decade if there wasn't a threat of fines or something.
My commute takes me past the old Kmart HQ in Troy, which has been empty since 2006. Over the years, there's been some interest in buying it and dozing it--ironically it's right across the street from a VERY upscale mall--but it's never come to anything. Kind of like all the old abandoned Kmarts around here.
And yet, this morning I saw the parking lot being plowed (SHLD doesn't own the building, but it still struck me as a foolish waste of time and money)
It will still be hard to unload, regardless of the condition. It's an albatross. McDonalds has a headquarters for sale that is in a much better location--that will be the competition for this site. It will take a very large, healthy company to take it over either site.
It was a completely different company in 1992. The competition was different as well. No sense in looking back as the past is the past. It isn't that bad considering the state of the company, and as some of the stores say, and if you get into stores you will know it's true, the stores have many more challenges than those who work in the corporate headquarters.
@oaw --yeah, the corporate office can't be in that bad of shape. Something built in 1992 is just getting broken in and would be at least mostly up to code.
Try our 1970s store on for size. It has a sinking slab foundation (the floor is like a tidal wave in some parts); severe mold issues due to major leaks, faulty wiring (actually had a fire in the mechanical room); a very noisy and troublesome HVAC system that, according to the QMT, cannot be fixed, so it lets out a high pitched squeal throughout the entire store (and can be faintly heard a block away), yet it never ends up cooling; most of the doors are out of square due to the foundation. This is all off the top of my head.
The aesthetics are crappy, too: missing ceiling tiles, chipped/gouged VCT tiles (asbestos?), stained/frayed carpets, broken wall panels (the kind that are removable). old, beat up shelves. Even the toilets lost their glazing and are now porous in the bowl. Imagine the sight of that? Ewww!
Even got a few bad feedbacks about that.
We don't even have a sink in our break room for crying out loud. Have to wash up in the restroom or take it home to wash. If anyone wants coffee they have to get their water from an old 1970s drinking fountain with no water pressure. Corporate has a cafeteria and probably dozens of well equipped breakrooms, sink included. So what is the problem? Is a leak thru a skylight or two all you guys have?
It's a shame how they ran that campus into the ground, much like the whole company. I recall when it was brand new in 1992, with beautiful landscaping, modern (at the time) IT infrastructure, a showcase atrium, nice offices, and decent furniture. The original 5 buildings were $600 million. The addition to A and the new G building pushed the total up to $1 billion. It was pricey, but it was a great deal to house as many people in one place, and to attract top talent.
Now, after a few decades of neglect, it seems unlikely that anyone will want to purchase the site, when Sears fails. If Sears is lucky, a few dozen smaller companies might buy into the space, but with the cost of renovations, they will be hard-pressed to get the buildings occupied. Instead, we might see the buildings torn down, like many major corporate buildings in the area. Ameritech had a very large building not far from the HE building, that was torn down after sitting empty, with no prospects. I suspect that will happen in this case.
the only 'perks' are things they can charge new tenants for like eeg said (gym/food/etc). only question is who would want to rent in those moldy buildings.
I dont think anyone working in corporate has anything to complain about. The building is older but still nice. Yes there are layoffs but that is to be expected with fewer stores. I take the mindset of I am going to work hard while ai have a job as the pay is good. Honestly.....be thankful while you have a job.
Everything is a rumor until it actually happens.
Quit b--chin about how bad you have it at corporate. You have no idea what we put up with in the stores. A leaky roof? Ha that's the least of our worries at store level.
Yes the atrium roof leaks when it rains or snow melts . 5 gallon buckets placed on the floor to catch the water. The key card scanners to enter to building stop functioning in cold weather. Does not matter if you are in a store or HE - nothing is fully maintained .
@eeg Yeah, that is pathetic. And do you still have a bunch of leaky holes in the roof at HE? Several people posted about that last year.
CNNMoney states that the next around is around April, from where did you get this info abt. another layoff round in March. I am in Sears India and the mood is gloomy here.
People in HE have already been consolidated and what perks? Overpriced cafeteria food? A gym that you have to pay to use? Nothing is free to HE employees unless you take away the drinking fountains next to the bathrooms .