What the Hell Happened to... #1

Once upon a time there was a nice retail store that was part of a HUGE chain. Everybody at the store enjoyed working there, and there was always a nice stack of job applications from those coveting a position at the store.

The employees were led by a management team that truly embodied the word team. They supported and helped each other to achieve success. In turn, the store achieved success and the employees were happy.

That's how it USED to be.

A member of the management team needed to temporarily change their availability to accomodate family schedules. The team member was s superlative manager, who took care of a lot of the detail work that exists with the management of a store. The team member was much beloved by the employees, and inspired everyone to do their best.

Said team member suggested schedule changes and noted the shifts they would be glad to cover if their temporary scheduling needs could be met. The other managers, embodying the true concept of team, readily agreed to accomodate their fellow team member's needs. This is what teams, and families, do.

Not at this store. The powers that be decided the team member must leave, and the team member was made to serve notice.

Moral fell with the departure of the team member. Employees missed working for a manager that always treated them fairly and with consistancy. The management team missed her personality and contributions to the store.

So for this post I ask, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO COMPANIES??? Was this REALLY in the best interest of the store? There was a time when companies took care of their best people. And make no mistake, this was a best people.

On top of that, this team member had been with the company for TEN YEARS. Yet not a word, not a goodbye, not a thanks, not a good luck, NOTHING was said from any member of management above the store level.

By the way, I'm not the subject of this post. This is not the rant of a disgruntled former employee.

I hope this store, and by extension this company, is not representative of retail employers everywhere. If it is, then again - WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO COMPANIES???