RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (Full Version)

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ArtsTech2 -> RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 5:00:58 PM)

I don't exactly know where to post this, so I'm trying here. I am in a major quandary, and have, other than prayer, NO IDEA what to do about this.

RadioShack is my husband's only other job since retiring from the US Air Force after 20 years of active duty. He's a Manager, and has been a highly productive one for over ten years now. But just lately the Corporation has created a series of MAJOR problems for Christian employees.

Managers have always been able to take Sunday as one of their days off. Now they HAVE TO work at least two Sunday's out of the month. Most of the time it winds up being either three Sunday’s that they are made to work. If they don't, they will be replaced. Yes, either demoted to full or part-time floor employee or fired.

My husband was saved in November 2002, and has been trying to grow spiritually, but this has largely limited him as to being able to go to Church. BUT.. there is more. Although our church (Methodist, Willow Creek-type based) has a 9:00 a.m. service, he has now been "informed" via an email (!) that he "WILL BE AT WORK AN HOUR BEFORE OPENING, AND ALL STORES OTHER THAN MALL STORES WILL NOW BE OPENING AT 11:00 A.M. INSTEAD OF 12:00 NOON."

This means that he can no longer even attend the early services at our church because he can NOT be in two places at once, and he has to be at the store at 10:00 a.m. IMPOSSIBLE. "So, get another job!", you may say. HA! We live in an Air Force Base town and, although it is growing quite fast, the jobs always go to the younger, returning military people who are in need of income in addition to the military, and those who are retiring right now. Besides, these new "policies" are something that RadioShack has not used before. They've come as a shock to us both.

Last Christmas Season was SO bad that we actually were only together ONE FULL DAY after Thanksgiving Day, and that was ON Christmas Day. Our church had it's 1st service since being newly built on Christmas Eve, and RadioShack "informed" my husband that he WOULD NOT be allowed to attend the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service (as he *had* been promised he could do) and come back to close at the "new" Christmas Eve close time of 7:00 p.m. (RadioShack always used to close at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve), or else he would be "written up" and reprimanded which would go against his work record and perhaps affect his year-end bonus.

He now works at the least SIX days each week, very often has to work TEN DAYS IN A ROW before he gets his ONE DAY OFF, and most of those days are from open to close, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. THIS IS INSANE!

Please know that I have ALWAYS been highly supportive of my husband, still, this "New RadioShack" as the Corporation refers to itself is literally RUINING our marriage. We have ZERO PRECENT of anything that even remotely resembles a life together any longer. We *had* a really great marriage and wonderful times together. That has now virtually ended totally.

RadioShack is in NO WAY "Family Friendly" or "Christian Friendly" anymore. Their motto used to be "You Have Questions. We Have Answers." By all realistic rights NOW it should be "You Have Questions? We Have An Answer. NO!". This is absolutely horrible.

He isn't even allowed to schedule the store employees, obviously including his own, hours anymore. A non-human piece of numbers-only software called "Workforce Management" does that, and if he makes changes, he is told that he's being "noncompliant". It's utterly perverse.

I am a diabetic, an asthmatic, and I had a DES stent heart surgery last June 14 (2007), and some days I 'almost' wish I had not come out of it alive. Yes, they honestly have made it THAT bad. Our only daughter is grown and lives 3,000 miles away, so I have no family here to spend any time with, and nothing to do at church... it's all filled with the volunteers needed there. Each morning at 7:30 he leaves me alone, and that's how I stay for the most part the whole day long. Yes, I am a degreed artist, but painting and graphics are little substitute for a dearly loved husband and a life together. Especially when I see him exhausted late each night from working so many long hours through the entire day. It breaks my heart.

Frankly, with the way RadioShack is now treating it's employees, especially the store Managers, a housewife such as myself could just be found dead in bed one night and her husband might be too tired to even notice. Sarcastic? Sure. At this point there's little, if any at all, reason not to be. RadioShack is NOT for Christians, and that's a plain and simple fact. FACT. We both long for the way it used to be, but that's over forever.

At any rate, I thought it was something that Christian consumers might want to be made aware of. It *IS* the truth. That says it all.

ArtsTech2 [:(]



GregandJenny -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 5:11:03 PM)

Is it radio Shack that owns his, or is it independently owned and operated.



momof4 -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 5:17:27 PM)

I have known 2 other guys who used to work for Radio Shack, and they will tell you that it was bad even b4 these new policies. They seem to be extremely inflexible, even a few yrs ago. Both of the guys I know are glad they got of of there and didn't stay around. Your husband's problem is that since he has 10 yrs in, that is significant, and I'm sure he doesn't want to leave all the seniority that he's built up, and also, if he's over 50 (which I'm sure he must be, considering he was in the military and retired 10 yrs ago) it will be more difficult to find another job, since a lot of companies don't want to hire people over 50. If they were smart, they would hire that kind of experience over some green kid, but usually they don't want to. It has been proven time and time again that happy employees, with flexibility built into the job, are WAY more productive and good for the company than those being treated the way your husband is being treated. It makes for good feelings all around, and companies like Radio Shack should learn that, but they seem to be one of the least flexible and unfair that I've heard of, even b4 these new policies. They seem to be going from bad to worse. Don't know what to tell you. You are in a very bad spot. I hope someone else comes arond with some good advice. I can't think of any right now. I will pray for you.



ArtsTech2 -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 5:17:43 PM)

The RadioShack that he's Manager of is Corporate owned by the Company Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. Very few are now franchised. The Corp. has closed around 400 stores over the past couple of years. They aren't opening the new ones that were in the planning stages at this point either.

Another thing that I didn't write in my original post is that the store he manages is in another town a half hours drive away. Both ways makes for an extra hour added to his day that way too. He had been promised a new store in the small city we live in... but, no. That won't be happening now. [&o]



zoebob -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 5:21:45 PM)

He should speak to a lawyer. They are forcing him to break his religious beliefs and they can't do that.



ArtsTech2 -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 5:47:16 PM)

I wish he *could* talk with an attorney about it all, but he knows that if it were to be made known that he did, he would absolutely be FIRED on the spot by his Regional Manager; probably before the day was over.

He and I have talked over ways to try to approach his District Manager (who is a seeming supporter of him... so far... he's fairly new here himself) about the frustrating issues the new "policies" have caused, but he couldn't even begin to be really certain that he wouldn't be demoted to store employee right then and there. Yes, it's happened to other Managers who have expressed their personal concerns and objections to "Company Policy". He's a very brave individual, but this has even him scared to speak up.

We can't live on *just* what he makes from his military retirement income each month. It's a decent check, but not an actual living income. And my doctors say they'd prefer that I wait until the Fall or Winter to go back to work. So...we're apparently stuck in a horrid place at this point. We're frustrated. Awfully frustrated.... Unless God sends something... I can't even begin to consider the future. It seems to be just ......blank. [sm=popsigh.gif]

Blessings to All of You & Yours,

ArtsTech2



Roberta_ -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 5:57:47 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ArtsTech2

I don't exactly know where to post this, so I'm trying here. I am in a major quandary, and have, other than prayer, NO IDEA what to do about this.

RadioShack is my husband's only other job since retiring from the US Air Force after 20 years of active duty. He's a Manager, and has been a highly productive one for over ten years now. But just lately the Corporation has created a series of MAJOR problems for Christian employees.

Managers have always been able to take Sunday as one of their days off. Now they HAVE TO work at least two Sunday's out of the month. Most of the time it winds up being either three Sunday’s that they are made to work. If they don't, they will be replaced. Yes, either demoted to full or part-time floor employee or fired.

My husband was saved in November 2002, and has been trying to grow spiritually, but this has largely limited him as to being able to go to Church. BUT.. there is more. Although our church (Methodist, Willow Creek-type based) has a 9:00 a.m. service, he has now been "informed" via an email (!) that he "WILL BE AT WORK AN HOUR BEFORE OPENING, AND ALL STORES OTHER THAN MALL STORES WILL NOW BE OPENING AT 11:00 A.M. INSTEAD OF 12:00 NOON."

This means that he can no longer even attend the early services at our church because he can NOT be in two places at once, and he has to be at the store at 10:00 a.m. IMPOSSIBLE. "So, get another job!", you may say. HA! We live in an Air Force Base town and, although it is growing quite fast, the jobs always go to the younger, returning military people who are in need of income in addition to the military, and those who are retiring right now. Besides, these new "policies" are something that RadioShack has not used before. They've come as a shock to us both.

Last Christmas Season was SO bad that we actually were only together ONE FULL DAY after Thanksgiving Day, and that was ON Christmas Day. Our church had it's 1st service since being newly built on Christmas Eve, and RadioShack "informed" my husband that he WOULD NOT be allowed to attend the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service (as he *had* been promised he could do) and come back to close at the "new" Christmas Eve close time of 7:00 p.m. (RadioShack always used to close at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve), or else he would be "written up" and reprimanded which would go against his work record and perhaps affect his year-end bonus.

He now works at the least SIX days each week, very often has to work TEN DAYS IN A ROW before he gets his ONE DAY OFF, and most of those days are from open to close, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. THIS IS INSANE!

Please know that I have ALWAYS been highly supportive of my husband, still, this "New RadioShack" as the Corporation refers to itself is literally RUINING our marriage. We have ZERO PRECENT of anything that even remotely resembles a life together any longer. We *had* a really great marriage and wonderful times together. That has now virtually ended totally.

RadioShack is in NO WAY "Family Friendly" or "Christian Friendly" anymore. Their motto used to be "You Have Questions. We Have Answers." By all realistic rights NOW it should be "You Have Questions? We Have An Answer. NO!". This is absolutely horrible.

He isn't even allowed to schedule the store employees, obviously including his own, hours anymore. A non-human piece of numbers-only software called "Workforce Management" does that, and if he makes changes, he is told that he's being "noncompliant". It's utterly perverse.

I am a diabetic, an asthmatic, and I had a DES stent heart surgery last June 14 (2007), and some days I 'almost' wish I had not come out of it alive. Yes, they honestly have made it THAT bad. Our only daughter is grown and lives 3,000 miles away, so I have no family here to spend any time with, and nothing to do at church... it's all filled with the volunteers needed there. Each morning at 7:30 he leaves me alone, and that's how I stay for the most part the whole day long. Yes, I am a degreed artist, but painting and graphics are little substitute for a dearly loved husband and a life together. Especially when I see him exhausted late each night from working so many long hours through the entire day. It breaks my heart.

Frankly, with the way RadioShack is now treating it's employees, especially the store Managers, a housewife such as myself could just be found dead in bed one night and her husband might be too tired to even notice. Sarcastic? Sure. At this point there's little, if any at all, reason not to be. RadioShack is NOT for Christians, and that's a plain and simple fact. FACT. We both long for the way it used to be, but that's over forever.

At any rate, I thought it was something that Christian consumers might want to be made aware of. It *IS* the truth. That says it all.

ArtsTech2 [:(]


Well, it looks like I won't be shopping at Radio Shack anymore for the same reasons that I no longer work/shop at Wal[:'(]Mart.

I'll be in prayer for you and your husband.



Kat_D -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 6:16:41 PM)

Is there any reason he can't look for/get another job?

Also, besides Sunday morning, our church has a service on Sunday evening, Wednesday evening and home fellowships several nights a week. They also offer a Men's Bible Study during the week. Most churches do this so peoiple with difficult schedules can get to church. Doesn't your church offer anything other than a Sunday morning service?

If that is all your church offers, perhaps you might want to look for/get another church too.



csl7037 -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 6:18:14 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ArtsTech2

I wish he *could* talk with an attorney about it all, but he knows that if it were to be made known that he did, he would absolutely be FIRED on the spot by his Regional Manager; probably before the day was over.


That would absolutely make an attorney's day! You know they can't do that, right?



jaimestarcross -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 6:23:45 PM)

I don't see not talking to an attorney about the matter because not talking
about the company abusing employees rights isn't doing anything for you or him!

Sometimes you just have to make a stand for what's right and your religious
freedom to worship is your right!

As for needing extra income - there's renting out a spare room, making your need known to your church family, other churches etc...
They could do fund raisers to help out.
Perhaps doing work as a handy man, lawn care, window washer, janitorial, car wash etc...

I'm not recommending anything I haven't done myself.



ArtsTech2 -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 7:00:47 PM)

No, hopefully he will be able to find another job that pays as well (Management) or, God Willing, better. But it's *very* hard to do while working at one job that occupies 12-13 hours a day with one day off each ten days.

I'm updating his resume, and he has one request from a cable company (he's A+ Certified, CCNA-Cisco Systems, and Microsoft.....he used his VA educational funds to go to college on from January 2000 thru December 2003 and because it was paid for by the State we could use the funds to help with our expenses...still those days are gone) to submit it to. But so far even they have no firm job description, start date, nor salary package to talk with him about.

He actually has a full tuition Scholarship Award. He has a 3.75 GPA from his college days, but no TIME to attend classes, so it's in essence useless for now. But I *AM* proud of him for it though! He had 36 months of educational VA funds, but that time was used up before he could finish his 4 year degree. Yes, he's over 50, but it's still well-worth him getting his full degree. I wish...he wishes.... but it can't just happen now, that's for certain. Maybe eventually... please God. In fact, when he was in college, he was working so closely with his instructors and even tutoring other students, that the school asked if he would work for them once he got his degree. Ah well..... Feels like we've been thrown away sometimes. Lately anyway.

As for the church, no, there are the Sunday morning 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services, and numerous Community Groups throughout the week. But he can't get back into involvement with the one, or any of the others, we were in because he cannot get to those either. He get off, at the absolute earliest, 7:00 p.m., and usually 9:30 p.m., and they start at 6:00 and 6:30. Another church? Same thing. No choices here under the present job situation that RadioShack is enforcing on it's Managers. Not a one.

I know this all sounds like mere complaining and griping, but really, it *is* more than that. Quite a lot more. Sure, I'd tend to say "Drama Queen" about the intensity that I'm writing these things with, but when I'm the one living with it, I'm finding out that being "painted into a corner" really is a very uncomfortable place to be. I certainly *do* appreciate your caring though. I know you people can't *do* anything as such, but you care, and that means more than you may well know. Thank you. Thank you *very* much. May you never face this kind of thing in your marriages, and may your families be Blessed always.

Peace to Each and Every One of You All,

ArtsTech2 [sm=icon_smile_fish.gif] [sm=heart.gif]



Roberta_ -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 7:09:06 PM)

Arts- I understand what you are saying, and I wasn't in management at Wal[:'(]Mart. It's a lot harder than people think. Unless you or a loved on have had a job that involves crazy hours, it's hard to comprehend what they are talking about. Not spending time with my family or being able to go to church was so hard!! I'm still in prayer for you!!



GregandJenny -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 7:54:18 PM)

quote:

He should speak to a lawyer. They are forcing him to break his religious beliefs and they can't do that.


See this is where I disagree. When you become management you most likely agree to open availability. It's your store, you have to be available.

I work 1 Sunday a month, it's required for my position. When I was an Assistant I worked EVERY SUNDAY it was required to be an assistant. If the Store manager wasn't there then the assistant had to be there.

Frankly, It seems that he may not be able to meet the responsibility of being the manager right now, and maybe should step down.

G



Kat_D -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 7:59:31 PM)

Well, I do know that no one, including an employer, can take advantage of someone unless they allow them to do so.

Of course they'll keep piling on the hours if he never says anything. Has he ever tried saying "No?" He cannot blame his employer for taking advantage of him if he has never said, "Sorry, I have a family to take care of and I have to go home" or "You promised me those hours off and I've made plans that I cannot change."

I didn't hear you say your husband complains about the situation. Does he? If this is an unbearable situation for him, he is the only one who can change it. He either needs to put his foot down and take the chance they may let him go or quit.



ArtsTech2 -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 8:35:42 PM)

1) Promises of certain desirable things were made to him by a District Manager who left the company, by choice for a better position with another company (HE had MORE time for himself!), a few months after my husband accepted the transfer. All moot points now.

2) The changes are applicable to all Managers and employees of NON-MALL (i.e. inside buildings) stores, and went against what was promised to them over a year and a half ago. Changed the rules in mid-game, so to speak.

3) He is working on determining exactly what and how he wants to approach discussing the situation with his current (new, third from the original one) District Manager. Sometimes just opening ones mouth isn't the most wisdom-based action to take at a particular given time.

and

4) LOL! I guess that I just KNEW that it wouldn't be very long before the attacks and criticisms started on this forum, because, frankly, my personal experience of the past three decades since I was a teenager was that far too many "christians" prefer to "circle the wagons" before they ATTACK [sm=comp1.gif] them. For those that didn't, thanks.

To those that did, thanks for reminding me. [sm=icon_smile_idea.gif] [sm=error.gif]

We'll survive this. And likely a lot better than I'd have "survived" these boards! [sm=hammerhead.gif]

What *was* I thinking? [sm=sadquestion.gif]

I'll be going now. [sm=wave.gif] It's a self-preservation thing. Although clearly some would, some of you wouldn't get it. [sm=car.gif]

Think I'd better just look to GOD from now on. [8|]

Bless the Rest,

AT2



Kat_D -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 9:09:55 PM)

quote:

4) LOL! I guess that I just KNEW that it wouldn't be very long before the attacks and criticisms started on this forum, because, frankly, my personal experience of the past three decades since I was a teenager was that far too many "christians" prefer to "circle the wagons" before they ATTACK them. For those that didn't, thanks.


I did not see where anyone attacked you or criticized you. I thought everyone just tried to offer constructive advice that might change things for your husband. I am sorry you were offended. I do understand that you are likely very sensitive because of your current circumstances. Apparently there were things you didn't want to hear...perhaps letting people know that upfront might be helpful if you should ever post again.

I do hope you husband finds a way to peace and contentment in his workplace, be it this one or a future one.



colliefan -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/15/2008 10:22:35 PM)

Psa 37:25 (ESV) 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.



preserved -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/16/2008 10:28:23 AM)

Have and your husband tried prayer. God can change all things. If it is really in the heart of your husband to attend church but unable to do so because of his job..Turn it over to God and ask God what to do.

Also since your husband is in a management position...schedules, etc comes with the territory of being in management...He should just quick and seek employment perhaps in another store within the mall?



manda59 -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/16/2008 6:57:47 PM)

Maybe it's time for a change for both of you, to review everything and see if it's time for a new direction.

quote:


Yes, I am a degreed artist


Are you passionate about your art? Have you ever thought of seeing if you could make a business out of it?

(My husband has been a professional artist for the last 4 years - he was kind of thrown into finding a new direction when he was made redundant at 48 from his job as Finance Director in the Defence Industry)

Does your husband have any interests about which he is passionate? Maybe there is something there that he could think of turning into a small business!!

If both of you were working from home, maybe you could make enough to live on. It might be an idea to do a few sums and see how little the pair of you could actually live on if it came to it.



Leslie_JnJs_mom -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/16/2008 9:18:47 PM)

quote:

Please know that I have ALWAYS been highly supportive of my husband, still, this "New RadioShack" as the Corporation refers to itself is literally RUINING our marriage. We have ZERO PRECENT of anything that even remotely resembles a life together any longer. We *had* a really great marriage and wonderful times together. That has now virtually ended totally.



I have so totally been where you are!! My husband was working for what in now a former friend who pulled stuff kinda like that. He just broke his word on pay and bonuses but still I can so relate to how you feel. I was so angry with the people we called friends for lying to us and for my husband for not finding another job. We had the fairy tale marriage and I used to think so this is how it ends because of a job. Not the marriage but the fairy tale happily ever after part. My husband is the worst about change. I thought he would never leave because he does not like changing things a lot. Thankfully he did get sick of it enough he found another job. He is a department manager at a home improvement store. It is awesome! Great benefits great pay and the company really tries to make it good for the employee's. He too has to work 2 Sunday's a month. They are pretty flexible about extra days off as long as there is coverage. There are times that it is not possible but if he puts it in a month prior they lock it in for him. I will pray that your husband will get sick of the stress and find another job too.



buckifn -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/17/2008 9:30:39 AM)

I think your husband needs to move on....if there are no jobs in your immed. area...plan for relocation...do some research on the internet and find a place where the jobs are.

There is no career worth sacrificing your family and your spiritual life to the point you describe...there is NO getting back those times you miss out on with your family, esp. holiday's etc.

I have relocated before because of career choices and never regretted it. Even if I had taken a cut in pay the peace of mine and my spiritual well being along with the well being of my family was more than worth it.

Money is not everything.



Kat_D -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/17/2008 12:05:51 PM)

quote:

Money is not everything.


...and it means absolutely nothing if you're miserable![sm=growlwarning.gif]



staychill -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/17/2008 12:47:59 PM)

all i can say is sorry and i will be keep you and him in my prayers.



Row1 -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/17/2008 1:00:24 PM)

i agree with other people.
this is not reasonable from rshack.
however, if you stay focused on them and how unfair they are, it WILL kill your marriage.
focus on living your life according to how God wants you to live.
God may or may not want you to be the single upset spouse that brings down the entire RShack corporation. Myself - I would make a plan to move on to something else.
If you two open your mind to moving to a place that is not a small town, you will have many more options, as an artist, as a cisco microsoft certified computer person, as a retail management person, as someone with intelligence and world-wide experience from military, with the financial stability of a modest retirement to enable transition, etc. You have so much in your favor right now. Don't get stuck on this injustice issue about rshack.

just move on and leave rshack to their own misery.



Auben -> RE: RadioShack's New Policy is WRECKING Our Marriage. Seriously... (6/17/2008 5:45:10 PM)

There are many lower management jobs like this. I can remember my father managing a gas station in the late '80s. We hardly saw him.

Not that it makes you feel any better. Jobs like this continue because people are afraid to make changes, sometimes big changes.

I'd be on my knees for many of those hours praying that God would open a door for us and I would be spending the rest of them looking for jobs, thinking about taking in side work, and getting ready to re-enter the job market myself.

I hope it works out for you and your husband.



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