I work with a pretty good group. I like them, in fact I’m proud of them . Though not the tough guy construction personnel I’m used to spending my days with, they do have the ethic. They are proof that the old fashioned American “Get it done” work ethic that brought this nation to the top of the class is not dead. I spend my work days surrounded by that ethic now as I have for close to four decades of blue collar life. As a whole this group makes every honest effort to see that the company they work for is profitable , and its customers are happy from good service received…..they carry their half of the weight while their demands lack greed . Like the majority of blue collars I’ve spent my life with they work hard for what they get and unfortunately in the present case, what many of them get is what they got 20 years ago. And for many still, less than half the wage they earned a couple or more decades past as HD , like many, has taken advantage of the situation to lower its wage scale. Yet they still put forth the honest effort of an honest worker who has accepted the task at hand and I feel they would even without that veiled threat…”you’re lucky to have any job at all.“
Yesterday many were told that yet again “The store didn’t meet its expectations the past week” and so to make up for the “loss” work hours will need to be cut . I could see the disappointment in the eyes …and feel the anxiety. For many the job barely covers the bills with a full weeks pay and any diminishment is a severe blow. All of this played hard on my mind as I watched a young woman punch out three hours early to begin an unexpected three days off. The thought of her in particular stayed in my mind, as I know no one who puts forth a more honest effort . And she immediately sprang to mind this morning for I know she received the same untimely quarterly email from Home Depot Headquarters that I did…….blithely informing us all of the good news….
UPDATES FISCAL YEAR 2011 GUIDANCE
THE HOME DEPOT ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER RESULTS;ATLANTA, May 17, 2011 — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported first quarter of fiscal 2011 net earnings of $812 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $725 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2010. For the first quarter of fiscal 2011, diluted earnings per share increased 16.3 percent from the prior year.
Sales for the first quarter totaled $16.8 billion, a 0.2 percent decrease from the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Comparable store sales for the first quarter were negative 0.6 percent, and comp sales for U.S. stores were negative 0.7 percent.
“We continued to improve our business and delivered double-digit earnings growth,” said Frank Blake, chairman & CEO. “Our sales declined slightly due to a slow spring selling season, but for the year we expect sales to grow in line with the guidance we previously provided. We will maintain our focus on providing great customer service and product and project values. I would like to thank our associates for their hard work and dedication.”
I’m not sure that young woman would understand some politicians explanation that lower taxes for HD and its stock holders is better for her ……..
And I’m not sure I understand why anyone would think she should
