Overheard at Harbor Freight

[L5wolvesf]

Heard this from person working the cash register while waiting in line to check out at Harbor Freight. They were commenting to the customer just ahead of me whom they seemed to know.

All of the employees there were being changed to part-time and they will no longer be receiving any benefits (Health ins, etc). Also, some new employees (I think 15 was the number) would be coming in all at pt.

If correct this would be an obvious cost cutting move. Since they are a privately owned company there is no way to know if they are having financial problems or . . .

L

 

[american lockpicker]

HF screwing over their own employees??? I am shocked!

 

[t100]

gotta find ways to pay back the $500 million.

http://calabasas365.com/company-lawsuit-settled

"Allan claims Eric then missed multiple payments and borrowed $500 million from Credit Suisse First Boston and used some of the money as “dividends” to pay for a $46 million dollar home in Beverly Hills, a $100 million dollar addition to his art collection, and a $20 million dollar apartment in New York City."

 

[Buckgnarly]

gotta find ways to pay back the $500 million.

http://calabasas365.com/company-lawsuit-settled

"Allan claims Eric then missed multiple payments and borrowed $500 million from Credit Suisse First Boston and used some of the money as “dividends” to pay for a $46 million dollar home in Beverly Hills, a $100 million dollar addition to his art collection, and a $20 million dollar apartment in New York City."

That whole deal is sad, father suing son for company he sold to him........I guess his own son paid HF prices for a tool store company!!!

 

[Ign]

HF screwing over their own employees??? I am shocked!

Exactly. And if you disagree with such tactics, you better not shop at Wally World either. "Save money, live better," makes me chuckle every time.

 

[trboxman]

Exactly. And if you disagree with such tactics, you better not shop at Wally World either. "Save money, live better," makes me chuckle every time.

Or shop at your local chain grocery store for that matter....or Target, or JC Penny's, or Sears, or your favorite autoparts store.....

 

[wreckerman5357]

This is a very common retail strategy. If I stopped shopping at places that treated their employees shabbily I wouldn't have any place left to buy the things I need.

 

[srmofo]

Or shop at your local chain grocery store for that matter....or Target, or JC Penny's, or Sears, or your favorite autoparts store.....

My wife is the manager for a very large east coast grocery chain. I have zero complaint with the way they treat their employees. Very fair, Very honest company to work for. Before my wife took this job as manager she was responsible for firing/hiring at their HR dept. Some of the stories she cam home with about the stupid ****, that employees do just makes you wonder.

Just because a job pays **** wages, doesnt mean they are treating their employees bad. It means they are paying what the market deems an appropriate amount for what the job entails. Lots of people are capable of folding clothes or stocking shelves and when the job can be learned in less than a day, then the wages are not going to be very competitive.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Typical strategy so employees don't work "full time" thus not being eligible for benefits.

 

[Adrien]

This is a very common retail strategy. If I stopped shopping at places that treated their employees shabbily I wouldn't have any place left to buy the things I need.

My first job in HS was at K-Mart. Everybody worked part time. This 'strategy' has been around for a long time.

Adrien

 

[monster1]

HF screwing over their own employees??? I am shocked!

Maybe they will find comfort in that he won't have to give up his art collection.

 

[kippieland]

My HF has added a bunch teenagers as well. Make sense now. Another reason for me not to shop their.

 

[barcalo]

My wife is the manager for a very large east coast grocery chain. I have zero complaint with the way they treat their employees. Very fair, Very honest company to work for. Before my wife took this job as manager she was responsible for firing/hiring at their HR dept. Some of the stories she cam home with about the stupid ****, that employees do just makes you wonder.

Just because a job pays **** wages, doesnt mean they are treating their employees bad. It means they are paying what the market deems an appropriate amount for what the job entails. Lots of people are capable of folding clothes or stocking shelves and when the job can be learned in less than a day, then the wages are not going to be very competitive.

+1 to this. I think most people do not get what business is about. It is about making money. HF sells mostly **** chinese tools to American people who are buying them because they are cheap, then they complain that their employees are being cut to part time so they can cut costs. They may need to cut costs so they can continue to sell you the crappy tools you buy because prices of steel, oil, shipping, plastic, paper and also labor in China is all rising and you don't want to pay more than $6 bucks for a electric blue tarp.

I live in America. I have been involved in a lot of different businesses since I was very young and have worked in retail, labor, food service, and as an exec. I have been treated like **** and treated well in all sectors. I have cleaned bathrooms, floors, equipment, and done work in a hazmat suit. I did all of it to earn money for businesses that only hired me so they could make money on my labor. That is their business, they took the risk and they have the right to make a profit when and where they can as long as they are not stealing from me. The over regulation that exists in the business world today forces all of us working folks to have less and spend more while 7 out of 10 people in this once great land have their hand in our pocket (the people that work to do well)

I will now get off my soap box. But this whole "the man" is screwing us talk is just played out and simple. If you want to get mad, get mad at the fact that most people in the USA have no general understanding that without profitable businesses that make things in the country and the harvesting of natural resources to feed us and allow us to move products we will all have less than we do now.

 

[Butters]

Last time I checked, nobody put a gun to the head of a HF employee, or a Walmart, or any other. They can leave that job anytime they wish. As long as the employer is providing a safe work environment and is not abusing its employees, I have no issue with them.

I'm not sure when this idea came about that job benefits were an entitlement. But my guess is since the health insurance lobby, the various medical and pharmaceutical lobbies, and other healthcare lobbies are more organized than the SBA or other business trade unions they can put these requirements on them because they benefit far more than citizens. This has nothing to do with "the other party." It has to do the influence of money/lobbies into politics. If you think it is all "the other party's" fault, I suggest you look at who is financing your party.

Let me know when there is a political party or politician that ACTUALLY represents the citizens rather than giving them lip service and trying to scare them away from "the other party."

Sorry for the politics.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I'm not sure when this idea came about that job benefits were an entitlement.

It's not an entitlement. It would be great to work full time and qualify for benefits. Why do you begrudge a hard worker for wanting a job where they can qualify for benefits?

 

[Galaxie]

Exactly. And if you disagree with such tactics, you better not shop at Wally World either. "Save money, live better," makes me chuckle every time.

You obviously know little about how Walmart pays employee's. I've had several friends work at them for several years while in school. They do keep employees at part time hours as much as possible. Which was perfect for College kids needing some work. Frankly if you are looking at making a career out of your Walmart job you aren't aiming very high. That said the Managers do get paid full time, salary and very well. Everybody at the end of the year gets a PROFIT share, you have to work their for a full 12months before you are eligible. This money is deducted from when items are stolen or items in the store are used, such as paper towels for cleanups. So it is an incentive to cut down on waste and theft by the employee's. Every year that I knew of the base profit share was several thousand dollars per person, managers made 5 digits. Walmart also provided benefits at a shared cost, on top of that they pay higher wages for checkers and every 6 months employee's were eligible for merit raises. The people I know that worked there were increasing their hourly pay by at least $1/hour every year. On top of all that not one person is FORCED to work at Walmart or HF or any other store for that matter.

I suppose we can have the gvt. mandate every company pay every employee full time $20/hour with full benefits. Of course the companies that would decide to stay in business with this would probably have to raise all their price ten fold to cover such exorbitant costs. Then we could ***** about how we can't afford anything and these greedy companies only raised their prices for PROFIT.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I suppose we can have the gvt. mandate every company pay every employee full time $20/hour with full benefits.

No way the govt would do it. They use the same tactic. When we lived overseas I had a position on base that was the exact same way. I did the job to completion but it was a situation that I found frustrating.

It's just one of those things employers can do. As already said, if an employee doesn't like it they can leave. But imagine if all the companies do that and the majority of employees leave. Eventually you end up with a situation like "they take all the jobs we don't want". The American worker would like compensation for their job that they can survive off of. Can't be mad at people for that.

Business are in business for profit. Can't be mad about that either.

Just ***** that tactics like that are the way it is.

 

[Davefr]

My HF has added a bunch teenagers as well. Make sense now. Another reason for me not to shop their.

Not if your son is the teenager needing to start learning some basic work skills to enter the workforce.

Even though I don't care for HF, I applaud companies that give those with few marketable skills the chance to enter the workplace.

If any full time worker is displaced then they should have focused on making their own skills more marketable.

 

[trboxman]

Not if your son is the teenager needing to start learning some basic work skills to enter the workforce.

Even though I don't care for HF, I applaud companies that give those with few marketable skills the chance to enter the workplace.

If any full time worker is displaced then they should have focused on making their own skills more marketable.

Nothing I hate worse than seeing a fast food joint staffed by folks from their mid 20's and above...those aren't meant to be career jobs. More and more you see folks in "stepping stone" jobs who expect them to provide living wages for the rest of their lives.

 

[kartracer55]

Not if your son is the teenager needing to start learning some basic work skills to enter the workforce.

Even though I don't care for HF, I applaud companies that give those with few marketable skills the chance to enter the workplace.

If any full time worker is displaced then they should have focused on making their own skills more marketable.

Bingo. It's nice to see a company that gives people that first chance. When I was 16, it was pretty difficult to find a job that wasn't at a burger joint. Most big places wanted 18+

 

[hickmlg09]

You obviously know little about how Walmart pays employee's. I've had several friends work at them for several years while in school. They do keep employees at part time hours as much as possible. Which was perfect for College kids needing some work. Frankly if you are looking at making a career out of your Walmart job you aren't aiming very high. That said the Managers do get paid full time, salary and very well. Everybody at the end of the year gets a PROFIT share, you have to work their for a full 12months before you are eligible. This money is deducted from when items are stolen or items in the store are used, such as paper towels for cleanups. So it is an incentive to cut down on waste and theft by the employee's. Every year that I knew of the base profit share was several thousand dollars per person, managers made 5 digits. Walmart also provided benefits at a shared cost, on top of that they pay higher wages for checkers and every 6 months employee's were eligible for merit raises. The people I know that worked there were increasing their hourly pay by at least $1/hour every year. On top of all that not one person is FORCED to work at Walmart or HF or any other store for that matter.

I suppose we can have the gvt. mandate every company pay every employee full time $20/hour with full benefits. Of course the companies that would decide to stay in business with this would probably have to raise all their price ten fold to cover such exorbitant costs. Then we could ***** about how we can't afford anything and these greedy companies only raised their prices for PROFIT.

Our store never gets the myshare bouns because of the theft. You are right about everything that you stated. I work as a Cashier at Walmart. I'm a part time employee. Sundays we get a $1.00 extra as they consider it as sunday preminum. Walmart does have good benfits. I have a 401k and I could have never got one with my other job.

 

[Al Bundy]

Either add $6000 a year per employee for health care or replace them with part timers. Pretty simple choice.

 

[pipsters]

This is what makes the 99% so pissed. A guy takes over a company, shakes it down and basically steals from it, and stiffs the employees who were responsible doing the grunt work building the business. Unbelievable.

 

[puttsy]

This is what makes the 99% so pissed. A guy takes over a company, shakes it down and basically steals from it, and stiffs the employees who were responsible doing the grunt work building the business. Unbelievable.

Sounds like Sears...only they're stiffing the consumer with the Made in USA name/tradition and expecting average Joe Do-It-Yourselfer to not take notice the new Made in China tag and terrible quality...

Sorry, every good HF thread needs at least one good Sears comment/cheap-shot.

 

[trboxman]

This is what makes the 99% so pissed. A guy takes over a company, shakes it down and basically steals from it, and stiffs the employees who were responsible doing the grunt work building the business. Unbelievable.

his dad started harbor freight by selling damaged freight goods from the back of his truck. The family is invested in the business far more than a minimum wage broom pusher in a retail store. The move to get rid of full time employees isn't new, isn't going to stop, and in this case may be a reaction to Obama Care. HFT didn't pay the extortion to get a waiver like the unions have.

 

[mitusa]

Sounds like Sears...only they're stiffing the consumer with the Made in USA name/tradition and expecting average Joe Do-It-Yourselfer to not take notice the new Made in China tag and terrible quality...

Sorry, every good HF thread needs at least one good Sears comment/cheap-shot.

The ceo of Sears made $7.2 million plus use of a charter plane this year.

http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/new-sears-ceo-compensation-put-72-million-plus-commuting-costs

 

[pipsters]

his dad started harbor freight by selling damaged freight goods from the back of his truck. The family is invested in the business far more than a minimum wage broom pusher in a retail store. The move to get rid of full time employees isn't new, isn't going to stop, and in this case may be a reaction to Obama Care. HFT didn't pay the extortion to get a waiver like the unions have.

Yeah but his dad didn't mortgage the company just to go on a real estate buying spree. Sorry you don't get any sympathy, what the brother did was completely unethical. Was it his call to do it? Sure.

Home Depot did the same thing, much before Obamacare came out. So did Circuit City. Fired all their higher paid full timers and hired high school and college kids @ $9/hr to work the floor. Saved a ton of money but look what happened...Home Depot got smacked by Lowes and Circuit City is no longer in business.

 

[american lockpicker]

This is what makes the 99% so pissed. A guy takes over a company, shakes it down and basically steals from it, and stiffs the employees who were responsible doing the grunt work building the business. Unbelievable.

Thats the actions of a typical capitalist. All they care about is making a ton of money in a short period of time regardless of what they have to do to accomplish it.

 

[Davefr]

only they're stiffing the consumer with the Made in USA name/tradition and expecting average Joe Do-It-Yourselfer to not take notice the new Made in China tag and terrible quality...

But it's "Joe Do It Yourself" consumer that has a love affair with cheap Chinese tools. If the average consumer wanted USA made tools and was willing to open their wallets deeper the manufacturers/suppliers would be happy to supply them.

Unfortunately we're in a different universe then the demographics of the every day Joe consumer which represents about 99.98% of the demand.

 

[pipsters]

Thats the actions of a typical capitalist. All they care about is making a ton of money in a short period of time regardless of what they have to do to accomplish it.

No its the action of someone who didn't build a company. It's the action of someone who was handed something and destroys it. Read the book "The millionaire next door", it describes the psychology behind it. Basically one generation builds the wealth, the next spends it, and the third is back being poor again. It's classic.

Reading thru that lawsuit I doubt the father, the guy who started and built the business, would have done what the son did.

 

[trboxman]

Yeah but his dad didn't mortgage the company just to go on a real estate buying spree. Sorry you don't get any sympathy, what the brother did was completely unethical. Was it his call to do it? Sure.

Home Depot did the same thing, much before Obamacare came out. So did Circuit City. Fired all their higher paid full timers and hired high school and college kids @ $9/hr to work the floor. Saved a ton of money but look what happened...Home Depot got smacked by Lowes and Circuit City is no longer in business.

The guy took out an equity loan on his business, no different than what folks were doing with their homes prior to the meltdown. Unwise? Yep. Unethical? Probably not...but I don't have the details and neither do you. All I do know is that their business is growing and they employ people and that's more than you can say for a lot of places at the moment. More power to them if they can maintain a profitable business with part time mininum wage employees..and I hope and pray that I never have to work there.

 

[kippieland]

This is what makes the 99% so pissed. A guy takes over a company, shakes it down and basically steals from it, and stiffs the employees who were responsible doing the grunt work building the business. Unbelievable.

 

[bgott]

This is what makes the 99% so pissed. A guy takes over a company, shakes it down and basically steals from it, and stiffs the employees who were responsible doing the grunt work building the business. Unbelievable.

The employees got paid for their time, didn't they? If they have a problem with the way things work they can come up with an idea and start their own business.

 

[kippieland]

Not if your son is the teenager needing to start learning some basic work skills to enter the workforce.

Even though I don't care for HF, I applaud companies that give those with few marketable skills the chance to enter the workplace.

If any full time worker is displaced then they should have focused on making their own skills more marketable.

So you are say...support kids and youth employement, but when they get older its their own damn fault they ended up working at that place. Hmmm....

 

[pipsters]

So you are say...support kids and youth employement, but when they get older its their own damn fault they ended up working at that place. Hmmm....

And the problem with his line of thinking is there simply aren't any jobs out there. Yes there are some, but the bulk of the middle class is sliding into low wage retail type jobs. And that includes folks with degrees.

I remember back in the late 90's getting a job as a high school kid, you just walked into any fast food joint around 2 PM, filled out an app, and talked to the manager right after. You started the next day.

In the early 2000's I went looking for part time work with the same company and they weren't even accepting applications. Had a stack of 100 and could get more at any time. That is what it's like now, only worse. There just aren't jobs available.

 

[amoney90]

I worked there for 2 years, and that happened right after I left, not surprising at all though they tried to do everything and anything to screw over and piss off their employees all the time, worst management i've ever dealt with, and i've worked at firestone.

 

[american lockpicker]

And the problem with his line of thinking is there simply aren't any jobs out there. Yes there are some, but the bulk of the middle class is sliding into low wage retail type jobs. And that includes folks with degrees.

I remember back in the late 90's getting a job as a high school kid, you just walked into any fast food joint around 2 PM, filled out an app, and talked to the manager right after. You started the next day.

In the early 2000's I went looking for part time work with the same company and they weren't even accepting applications. Had a stack of 100 and could get more at any time. That is what it's like now, only worse. There just aren't jobs available.

Sad but true.

 

[kythri]

If you're going to stop shopping at HF because they're keeping their employees at part time to avoid paying benefits, you better stop shopping at 90% of retail, grocery and restaurant establishments.

 

[trboxman]

If you're going to stop shopping at HF because they're keeping their employees at part time to avoid paying benefits, you better stop shopping at 90% of retail, grocery and restaurant establishments.

I tried making a similar point earlier...pearls before swine...

 

[Danglerb]

Sounds like Obamacare in action.