Special Report
America's Worst Companies to Work For
June 21, 2014 9:01 am
Last Updated: March 13, 2020 4:30 pm
11. RadioShack
> Rating: 2.4
> Number of reviews: 1,255
> CEO approval rating: 46% (Joseph C. Magnacca)
> Employees: 27,500
> Industry: Electronics retail
RadioShack Corp.’s (NYSE: RSH) abysmal performance in recent years has reflected poorly on senior management. Employees rated senior management 2.2 out of a possible 5.0. And less than half of employees approve of CEO Joseph Magnacca. Many reviews cited low wages and poor benefits, conditions that often lead to employee dissatisfaction. While entry-level retail associates complained of inadequate hours, the opposite was true for store managers. One reviewer said that, considering the long hours managers put in, the increased salary isn’t really much higher.
After $400 million loss last year — the second consecutive year in which the company has lost money — RadioShack said it could close more than 1,000 of its retail outlets this year, roughly a quarter of its U.S. company-operated stores. Despite RadioShack’s efforts to remain competitive in the ever-evolving electronics industry, the retailer is nearing irrelevancy. According to The Wall Street Journal, 25% of all electronics purchases were made online in 2013.
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10. Children’s Place
> Rating: 2.4
> Number of reviews: 427
> CEO approval rating: 27% (Jane Elfers)
> Employees: 16,500
> Industry: Apparel retail
Generous employee benefits — such as up to 30% off including clearance items — contributed to numerous positive reviews for The Children’s Place Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE). Such perks, however, did little to offset complaints regarding low pay and difficulties in getting adequate hours. Entry-level sales associates disapproved of training protocols by and large. These protocols include promoting rewards programs and other pushy sales practices when dealing with customers. Like with many of the companies on this list, the company’s CEO is unpopular. According to Glassdoor.com reviews, just over one in four employees approve of the way CEO Jane Elfers is running the company, among the lower approval ratings on Glassdoor.com.
Shareholders, too, are likely unhappy with the company. Revenues have been relatively flat in recent years, while earnings per share have declined in each of the past four years. Over the past year, the company’s share price has dropped by about 4.5%, even as the stock market has largely risen.
9. Family Dollar Stores
> Rating: 2.4
> Number of reviews: 509
> CEO approval rating: 39% (Howard R. Levine)
> Employees: 58,000
> Industry: Discount retail
Like many retail operations, Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO) offers entry-level workers low-paying high-stress employment. Family Dollar has added hundreds of stores in the past several years, reaching a total of 8,100 U.S. retail outlets. According to numerous employee reviews, however, these new stores are the most likely to be poorly run. One such reviewer complained about inconsistent schedules, part-time hours, product shortages and overall chaotic management.
Family Dollar’s CEO received a 39% approval rating, hardly spectacular but better than a number of peers running companies with the lowest employee reviews. However, the opinion that matters most may be that of famed activist investor Carl Icahn, who recently disclosed a sizable stake in the discount retailer. Icahn has announced that he will push for Family Dollar to sell itself via an acquisition or shareholder buyout.
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