#BoycottSearsCanada: Retailer faces 'PR nightmare' over treatment of laid-off workers
Chain tries to attract customers during restructuring, but encounters online criticism
By Sophia Harris, CBC News Posted: Jul 23, 2017 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 23, 2017 5:21 AM ET
Sears Canada is striving to reinvent itself and entice customers. But every time it posts an ad promoting products on its Facebook site, the retailer is bombarded with angry comments.
"No one cares!" wrote one person, commenting on a dishware ad. "As far as I'm concerned the whole company should go belly-up."
"Empty plates are what Sears ex-employees will be staring at after they have been rooked out of their severance and retirement payments," posted another person.
The spiteful comments follow Sears' announcement last month that as part of a court-supervised restructuring process, it's closing 59 of its 255 stores and laying off 2,900 workers — none of whom is getting severance.
Sears has also requested court permission to stop topping up the underfunded retiree pension plan. The retailer recently agreed to postpone that matter until Sept. 30.
The repercussions of the restructuring — especially the no-severance deal — have infuriated numerous Canadians, many of whom want Sears to know they won't be shopping at its department stores.
"I will not spend one red cent in your store … no severance, no sale," posted one person.
"I will not be checking out anything at Sears. Do your duty to your employees, you jerks," wrote someone else.
There are also calls for a boycott, with some adding to their comments: #BoycottSearsCanada. The hashtag has also shown up on Twitter.
Commenters have also griped about the news Sears will pay up to $7.6 million in court-approved retention bonuses to 43 executives and senior managers during the restructuring process.
"PLEASE SUPPORT THE C.E.O. OF SEARS CANADA HE NEEDS YOUR HELP!" someone posted as a joke on Sears' Facebook site.
'PR nightmare'
"It's just a PR nightmare," says retail analyst, Bruce Winder about the social media attacks. "That is not going to serve them well as they try to build back sales momentum."
Winder believes Sears' restructuring has sparked a backlash because people don't like to see bad things happen to people they view as vulnerable — such as retail workers.
"Consumers, when they see that a company, in their opinion, doesn't treat those vulnerable people properly, they lash out," says Winder, with the Retail Advisors Network in Toronto.
Sears managers to earn thousands in bonuses
Star of Sears ad with Mike Myers loses job, severance
Sears Canada told CBC News that deep financial troubles left it with no choice but to seek court protection from its creditors while it restructures.
As part of the court proceedings, the company said it's not able to make payments to a number of stakeholders, including laid-off workers owed severance.
It also said the employee retention bonuses are necessary to keep senior staff who will help Sears achieve the best possible outcome for everyone: a revamped retailer that stays in business.
Sears did not offer any specific comment on the reams of angry posts on its Facebook site.
...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sear...ance-1.4216351
Prev
.JPG)
Linear Mode
