Kmart confirms layoffs, won't say how many

[UpInArms]

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/7944884.htm

TROY, Mich. - Kmart Holding Corp. is laying off an undisclosed number of workers in a nationwide store-by-store review expected to wrap up this month, company officials confirmed.

The retailer is adjusting staffing levels in "a normal review of our business," but the layoffs go beyond the normal reduction of part-time jobs after the holidays, Kmart spokesman Jack Ferry said Thursday.

The cuts will allow Kmart, whose sales fell 13.5 percent during the holidays, to schedule employees around peak customer traffic hours, Ferry told the Detroit Free Press. Not all 1,500 stores are affected and the total number of job cuts has not been determined, he said.

<snip>

Kmart said last month that it earned $250 million in November and December, but that its sales at stores open at least a year dropped 13.5 percent for what is the retail industry's two biggest sales months.

...more...

I do not know if their sales were "typical" for Nov and Dec - but haven't the gov's reports been touting "increased" sales?

hmmmmm.....

wonder who I should believe....

stores that are closing (ie Toys 'R Us etc) because of declining sales or those reports?

what is the accurate reflection of our economic "recovery"?

Surely, if the US is in a "recovery", wouldn't those stores be adding jobs and sales increasing?

I am so confused (/sarcasm)

[rooboy]

1. Don't be confused...

Kmart is just making room for those thousands of new people they're going to hire this year.

Ok?

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

2. Can't those employees just move to Matamoros?

Then they can keep their jobs.

[bushisanidiot]

3. KMART hasn't learned from WALMART and pres. AWOL that the only successful

bidnesses in the u.s. are those that outsource. cuz ya see.. as president shitferbrains sez.. outsourcing is a "good thing and good for 'murika!"


oh, and don't forget.. kerry looked at a pretty girl, so he can't be president. don't forget that everyone!!

[LoRoy]

4. Not surprising

Kmart's management sucks. At the Kmart here in my town the store is in constant disarray and has been for several years. Nothing is located where you think it should be, there are no prices on the shelves, and the selection is poor. I only go there if it's absolutely necessary.