The employees knew 10 days in advance this was happening and were given the opportunity to prepare. The e-mail was not a surprise, because it was well published internally that if you got an e-mail meeting invite to visit with your supervisor, your job was gone. Let me repeat, YOU GOT A MEETING INVITE TO MEET WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR!! Everyone was waiting at 8:45 to see if they got a meeting invite, and those who did found out at the same time. This was a humane way to handle a difficult process. People in the media, without any substantiating facts, are dog piling and publishing lies and half-truths about this situation. I've lost all faith in the mainstream news media and in citizen journalists such as you. Headlines saying "Employees fired by e-mail" make, well, good headlines. Unfortunately, there's a whole story there that was not published -- that employees were treated with dignity and respect every step of the way. Get off of RadioShack's back and credit them for not blindsiding its employees.
Your post is the perfect example of "media" run amonk. RadioShack employees knew the company was cutting 400 positions at the HQ for a full 10 days before the cut happened. There were numerous meetings with employees, e-mails to employees, and even an intranet site with helpful information on how to deal with job loss and how to prepare. The e-mail that everyone is so quick to blast RadioShack about was an EXPECTED notice to attend a meeting WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR! What was the alternative? Have the supervisor wander around the open-cube environment and tap employees on the shoulder to join them in a private room for the bad news? The way it was done allowed all of the employees who were being cut know at the same time, take a few minutes to gather themselves (I don't know about you, but I would rather not cry in front of my supervisor or co-workers) and then meet with my supervisor. From there the former employees went to a bigger meeting where they got their severance packages (which weren't all that bad), could talk to people about their benefits and insurance, and get info on an upcoming job fair the company is hosting for the displaced employees to help them find a job. And if you didn't have a ride home, the company even gave you a voucher to pay for a cab.
This was not a surprise, nor was the human element devoid from the process. Employees were engaged every step of the way, and everyone seemed to appreciate the company's open dialog to help them deal with what was sure to be an unpleasant experience. I guess the next time the company should just follow the example of other companies, such as Liberty Mutual. When they had a big layoff employees found out about it by not being able to log into their computers, then receiving a notice to pick up their belongings and go downstairs where there was a line of cabs as far as the eye could see to take them away. At least RadioShack exhibited some class in giving employees plenty of time to pack their things, make copies of files for their portfolios, mentally prepare for what may happen and, yes, even get their resumes out on the street to look for new employment.
People in the news media and all of these so-called experts should quit dogpiling on RadioShack and maybe take the time to visit with some actual employees to see if they found the experience as "crass" and "classless" as everyone on the outside seems to think. Believe me, it was anything but.
Signed: Get off our Backs!!
Uhh, no.
It means they are efficient
and know how to use technology....
Go RSH !
It's the new economy; everyone as their own manager, except when it comes to hiring, handing out raises and bonuses, managing any actual people, or having any say over their own working conditions.
Commenting by HaloScan
