Monday, June 21, 2004
RETAIL RAGE PART 2: MEIJER
I’ve recently come to the conclusion that Meijer is evil.
This past week I was at the Meijer store in Maumee when I realized there were no people acting as baggers at the end of the checkout lanes. This particular location has been open for probably 10 years or more, so this came as a bit of a shock.
I inquired as to where they were and I was told that the company as a whole had gotten rid of all baggers and approximately half of their manegerial staff. That’s thousands of positions elminated. This struck me as a bit odd. After all, this country, and in particular my state of Ohio, has been going through a sort of minor depression lately. Jobs have been very hard to come by and a lot of teenagers, as well as adults, have sought employment at retail outfits like Meijer. Grocery baggers were always in demand due to the amount of customers filing in and out all day, and many of them could eventually get into management if they stuck around long enough. So why would this company, which is currently at the pinnacle of its growth, suddenly decide to put a couple thousand people out of work?
To answer my questions, I got online and clicked over to www.meijer.com. Unfortunately, here I was met with just a lot of the standard issue corporate level b.s. In other words, I wasn’t getting anywhere. I decided to contact John Zimmerman, Meijer’s Director of Community and Customer Relations. He is used solely for contact by members of the media it seems, but I figure I’m writing a weblog entry here--so that should count. And surely if I had questions, this man would have the answers, right? Not being able to afford a lengthy long distance call, I decided to do the next best thing and write him an e-mail. What follows is the text of said e-mail:
Hello, sir.
Recently Meijer eliminated the jobs of thousands of workers, ranging from grocery baggers to managerial staff. I'd like to understand why.
I checked Meijer.com and found a lot of information in some older press releases. They said that the removal of these downsized employees would "create more open lanes, more often" as well as "offer one on one service with guests." That sounds great and all, but couldn't that be solved much easier by simply hiring more cashiers? I can't tell you how many times I have tried to check out and found myself in a long line, waiting 15 minutes or more for service. The problem was never once the speed of the baggers. It was the lack of open lanes. If more cashiers were hired, more lanes would be open. Doesn't that sound a little more reasonable?
I also found out that it will be the cashiers now who will be both checking customers out as well as bagging their items for them. I'm curious, will the cashiers be paid more now that they are doing twice as much work?
I understand that Meijer offered the "downsized" employees help in finding a new job after their own was eliminated. Tell me, were the new jobs they found lower paying for the most part? Did anyone land better jobs? Will any of the former employees receive better jobs with Meijer in the corporate infrastructure? I think it would be a great reward for their honorable service to the company, don't you?
With all the jobs being eliminated, Meijer will save a great deal. Will these savings be passed on to consumers? If so, how? What products can consumers look forward to saving on?
How much salary does CEO Hank Meijer earn per year? If this information available? If so, will he, or has he already, received a raise? I mean, just what exactly is going to be done with all that recently freed up cash anyway?
A few more items of interest, if you'll indulge me:
On Meijer.com there are two quotes in particular that baffled me. I was hoping you could provide some answers. One stated, "We believe we should be an asset to the communities we serve.” How exactly are you benefitting the community by eliminating jobs in the midst of high unemployment rates?
Another quote stated, “As an employer, we show respect for everyone with our hiring practices. Once hired, we treat our hard-working team members with the respect they deserve.” This one really surprised me. Is eliminating jobs during a high period of unemployment how Meijer defines "respect"?
I apologize for the length of this e-mail, but I really am quite confused by these practices. Meijer is #9 on Forbes' list of largest private companies. The business pulls in billions of dollars and wields great influence in the retail world. Why are you so insistent on eliminating so many jobs all of a sudden?
I'd really love some answers.
Yours,
Jason Korbus
Unfortunately, I have yet to receive a response from Mr. Zimmerman, but I remain optimistic. If and when I do receive that response, I’ll post it on the weblog for anyone who is interested to read. Until then, I guess all I can do is keep trying to find the answers to these questions I have.
I’ve recently come to the conclusion that Meijer is evil.
This past week I was at the Meijer store in Maumee when I realized there were no people acting as baggers at the end of the checkout lanes. This particular location has been open for probably 10 years or more, so this came as a bit of a shock.
I inquired as to where they were and I was told that the company as a whole had gotten rid of all baggers and approximately half of their manegerial staff. That’s thousands of positions elminated. This struck me as a bit odd. After all, this country, and in particular my state of Ohio, has been going through a sort of minor depression lately. Jobs have been very hard to come by and a lot of teenagers, as well as adults, have sought employment at retail outfits like Meijer. Grocery baggers were always in demand due to the amount of customers filing in and out all day, and many of them could eventually get into management if they stuck around long enough. So why would this company, which is currently at the pinnacle of its growth, suddenly decide to put a couple thousand people out of work?
To answer my questions, I got online and clicked over to www.meijer.com. Unfortunately, here I was met with just a lot of the standard issue corporate level b.s. In other words, I wasn’t getting anywhere. I decided to contact John Zimmerman, Meijer’s Director of Community and Customer Relations. He is used solely for contact by members of the media it seems, but I figure I’m writing a weblog entry here--so that should count. And surely if I had questions, this man would have the answers, right? Not being able to afford a lengthy long distance call, I decided to do the next best thing and write him an e-mail. What follows is the text of said e-mail:
Hello, sir.
Recently Meijer eliminated the jobs of thousands of workers, ranging from grocery baggers to managerial staff. I'd like to understand why.
I checked Meijer.com and found a lot of information in some older press releases. They said that the removal of these downsized employees would "create more open lanes, more often" as well as "offer one on one service with guests." That sounds great and all, but couldn't that be solved much easier by simply hiring more cashiers? I can't tell you how many times I have tried to check out and found myself in a long line, waiting 15 minutes or more for service. The problem was never once the speed of the baggers. It was the lack of open lanes. If more cashiers were hired, more lanes would be open. Doesn't that sound a little more reasonable?
I also found out that it will be the cashiers now who will be both checking customers out as well as bagging their items for them. I'm curious, will the cashiers be paid more now that they are doing twice as much work?
I understand that Meijer offered the "downsized" employees help in finding a new job after their own was eliminated. Tell me, were the new jobs they found lower paying for the most part? Did anyone land better jobs? Will any of the former employees receive better jobs with Meijer in the corporate infrastructure? I think it would be a great reward for their honorable service to the company, don't you?
With all the jobs being eliminated, Meijer will save a great deal. Will these savings be passed on to consumers? If so, how? What products can consumers look forward to saving on?
How much salary does CEO Hank Meijer earn per year? If this information available? If so, will he, or has he already, received a raise? I mean, just what exactly is going to be done with all that recently freed up cash anyway?
A few more items of interest, if you'll indulge me:
On Meijer.com there are two quotes in particular that baffled me. I was hoping you could provide some answers. One stated, "We believe we should be an asset to the communities we serve.” How exactly are you benefitting the community by eliminating jobs in the midst of high unemployment rates?
Another quote stated, “As an employer, we show respect for everyone with our hiring practices. Once hired, we treat our hard-working team members with the respect they deserve.” This one really surprised me. Is eliminating jobs during a high period of unemployment how Meijer defines "respect"?
I apologize for the length of this e-mail, but I really am quite confused by these practices. Meijer is #9 on Forbes' list of largest private companies. The business pulls in billions of dollars and wields great influence in the retail world. Why are you so insistent on eliminating so many jobs all of a sudden?
I'd really love some answers.
Yours,
Jason Korbus
Unfortunately, I have yet to receive a response from Mr. Zimmerman, but I remain optimistic. If and when I do receive that response, I’ll post it on the weblog for anyone who is interested to read. Until then, I guess all I can do is keep trying to find the answers to these questions I have.
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