As many of you know my husband has worked for K mart for 29 years. He started as a stock boy,with just a high school diploma.He worked him self up to a senior managment job.He was on salary,making great money.The only person in the store that was making more money than him was the store manager.With all of the mess Kmart has been in,Mike kept hearing that they were trying to get rid of all the older workers that made good money,and get their retirement.In our small town,our Kmart does really well,great even.We had been told so many times how great this store is doing and that they needed all of the good workers they could find!Well, guess what happens now..........They tell my husband that 1 of the managers have to go,the company is going under and they have to cut a job.They gave my husband 2 choices.1.quit or take a small job for 40 hours a week and $13 an hour(he makes $25 now)This is a terrible thing for our family,I know to some it may sound bad for me to be upset,but, I am.I just wanted to vent.It just doesn't seem fair to work all your life at a company and then be slammed like this.Who is gonna hire a 50 yr old man with just a high school diploma?I am also working ,but, we have 3 children,,, 1 in collegeI hope I have no offened anyone with this vent,I just say **** Kmart.SHOP WALMART!!!!!

By Bobbie on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 08:35 pm:

We don't have any Kmarts here anymore. They all went under years ago. I know it stinks maybe he can try applying else where. He has on job training, it isn't like he is 50 and has been a bag boy his whole life. See if anyone might offer him a bit more money.. Big hugs to you and good luck.

By Melanie on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 08:45 pm:

(((HUGS))) Stay positive...it is going to work out okay for you. Prayers and lots of hugs coming your way.

By Tonya on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 09:33 pm:

Could he go to Wal-mart or something like that and apply for a manager job he has the expenience or somewhere else for that type of job?

By Mommmie on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 09:51 pm:

I'm sorry this happened to your husband and your family! He is in good company. This is so common. It may have less to do with his age and more with his salary level. Makes no sense to the bottom line to pay someone $25/hr when someone else will do it for $15 or $18 or anything less. Loyalty means nothing now.

Course, age discrimination is alive and well. I called an attorney about a legal assistant job about 5 years ago. First question to me over the phone, "How old are you?" Attorneys like them young, unencumbered and willing to work 24/7.

Wal-Mart has some really horrible business practices. Grass isn't always greener.

I thought Kmart just emerged from bankruptcy. Are they still struggling? They pulled out of here a year or two ago.

By Cybermommyx4 on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:19 pm:

{{nanaoie}} Hang in there. I can definitely relate. DH has worked for 17 years for Penn Traffic (P & C Foods) and we constantly worry about how we'd take care of our 4 kids if something happened to his job. They are always closing stores, etc, and they have been in BK twice now - a few years ago they cut Sunday pay from time and a half to an extra $1 per hour, and eliminated most other overtime. This cost us almost $800 per month, so you can imagine how much that hurt...it's true that loyalty means nothing to corporate. The district managers and below try to keep the guys they know are hard workers, but someone at corporate doesn't match a name with a face/history - they just want to fill the position as cheaply as they can, and as long as the individual has a pulse, they're happy. Bad business. Keep in mind that everything happens for a reason, and this may lead to something your DH likes better - He has the experience needed to go to another company, if need be...

By Mrse on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:33 pm:

Well I think you should be choked!!That is just terrible. Is it legal, for them to do that? Can you call labour relations about this, and make sure they can do it. I do not think it is acceptable, for companies to get away with this. They want more and more from the worker,but don't want to pay for it. sharing your vent!!

By Dana on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 11:01 pm:

I'm just dumbfounded. I know it happens all the time, but it just doesn't even make sense. Well, it does make sense in the pocket, but geeze, so unfair.

By Mommyathome on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 11:26 pm:

(((hugs))) That is terrible. We live in a small area and have lived off of K-mart for many years. We just had a Wal-mart open last week (!!!!) and we expect K-mart to go under before too long. They are known for treating their employees badly. My DH worked there right after we got married, it was awful. I'm sure your DH can find another management job. My DH was looking for a second job a couple years ago (after he had already quite K-mart) and he went to a grocery store (large chain) to apply to be a night stocker for a few nights per week. They said he was over qualified because he had been a department head at K-mart. They wanted him to move into a management position at the grocery store. DH had already landed a great job with UPS and was just looking for a little extra money on the side. The interview guy basically told him that being a store manager is a great job as well (which I'm sure it is) and that he would have to choose between UPS and this store management job. HELLO!!! DH just wanted to stock shelves! He just left. So, my point with this long winded story is that I'm sure your DH will be able to find something. He has lots of experience and also a track record full of dependability I'm sure.
More (((((hugs))))) I hope everything works out. And I agree....shop Walmart!

By Bea on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 01:52 am:

Not to defend K-Mart, but you can blame Walmart for the cutbacks. They come into an area and deliberately situate their store to compete with any other discount store. They then will discount
their merchandise just enough to kill any competition. They are big enough to absorb that short term loss. They not only gobble up competition like K-Mart, but they put every small store around them out of business. So go ahead and shop there, and watch all the other stores close.
I'm really sorry this is happening to your husband Lori. I'll pray that he finds a better job very soon....hopefully away from retail.

By Colette on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 05:39 am:

(((lori))) good luck.

By Marg on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 06:45 am:

It's just not happening to older workers, it happening to everyone.

We live in the age of disposable items and people are one of them.

Sorry I am venting too!

My dh is currently going to college and he plans to work for himself in 3 or 4 years. He is tired of working for companies treating him like this.

I was treated like this when mom had cancer. It was either work or mom. I worked there for almost 16 years and they wouldn't give me time off to take care of her

They tell you to have loyalty as a worker, but it is ok for the company not to have loyalty. I know all companies are not like this but a lot are big and small

Sorry!

By Kay on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 01:43 pm:

Mommmie - It is illegal to ask you your age in any type of job interview. I believe it also applies in the 'selection for interview' process. I'd turn the folks who asked you that question in to the Equal Opportunity folks. They also can't ask if you're married, have children, etc. If you volunteer it, that's your choice. That type of 'weeding out' drives me crazy!

By Brandy on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 02:29 pm:

K-Mart isn't the only place this is happening at and also it isn't just older people either i feel for you.I wish this could be changed but the economy is pretty stinky right now...

By Mommmie on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 05:08 pm:

Yes, of course it is illegal to ask age, children etc. It still happens all the time. No way I'm going to turn in that attorney who asked me how old I was. The legal field is like a small town and I want and need to work in it and to make a formal complaint about an attorney with no evidence of wrong doing is career suicide. Just like on Survivor, the key to surviving is to stay just below the radar screen. (But unfortunately, some of our salaries stick up too high drawing attention to ourselves!!)

By Wandilu on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 05:37 pm:

if there is an 84 lumber co. near you,get dh to apply for a mang.position with them.here in tn,and hopely elsewhere,they are great to work for.and the bigger the store,the better.because the mangmt.gets an hourly plus a % of their profets.plus benefits. God bless you and good luck !!!

By Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 08:03 pm:

Try out Home Depot they pay their managers very well (used to be one)

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 08:04 pm:

Try out Home Depot they pay their managers very well (used to be one)
Yvonne
Do not know how I managed to post above as anon but it was a mistake--sorry!