http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573 Getting laid off is never easy. Employees hope at the least that their managers would do it in a personal and compassionate way. RadioShack did it by e-mails. Associated Press reported: Tuesday morning about 400 workers at RadioShack Corp.'s headquarters received one of those mass e-mail notifications that companies use to let workers know about everything from picnics to promotions. But this e-mail was Radio-Shack's way of cutting jobs: &quot;The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated.&quot; That's about as impersonal as a company could get. Company spokeswoman Kay Jackson defended the electronic pink slips by noting that Radio-Shack had told employees in a series of meetings that layoff notices would be delivered by e-mail. She said employees were invited to ask questions before Tuesday's notification -- provided they did so electronically. Derrick D'Souza, a management professor at the University of North Texas, said he had never heard of such a large number of terminated employees being notified electronically. &quot;If I put myself in their shoes, I'd say, 'Didn't they have a few minutes to tell me?' &quot; Mr. D'Souza said. It's hard for a manager to look someone in the eye and tell them that their life will suffer a major disruption. So, obviously, an e-mail would ease that angst. The only time I've ever been laid off in my life, my editor took me to breakfast and told me. I was actually being laid off from the Contra Costa Times because I criticized the publisher, the late Dean Lesher, who while alive was the scum of the earth. He demanded that reporters act as host and hostesses for his annual party for advertisers. I suggested that sucked eggs. He suggested I could work elsewhere. But to the point &mdash; do you have any experiences or thoughts on how people should be laid off? Posted by Steve E. Swenson &nbsp; Getting laid off is never easy. Employees hope at the least that their managers would do it in a personal and compassionate way. RadioShack did it by e-mails. Associated Press reported: Tuesday morning about 400 workers at RadioShack Corp.'s headquarters received one of those mass e-mail notifications that companies use to let workers know about everything from picnics to promotions. But this e-mail was Radio-Shack's way of cutting jobs: &quot;The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated.&quot; That's about as impersonal as a company could get. Company spokeswoman Kay Jackson defended the electronic pink slips by noting that Radio-Shack had told employees in a series of meetings that layoff notices would be delivered by e-mail. She said employees were invited to ask questions before Tuesday's notification -- provided they did so electronically. Derrick D'Souza, a management professor at the University of North Texas, said he had never heard of such a large number of terminated employees being notified electronically. &quot;If I put myself in their shoes, I'd say, 'Didn't they have a few minutes to tell me?' &quot; Mr. D'Souza said. It's hard for a manager to look someone in the eye and tell them that their life will suffer a major disruption. So, obviously, an e-mail would ease that angst. The only time I've ever been laid off in my life, my editor took me to breakfast and told me. I was actually being laid off from the Contra Costa Times because I criticized the publisher, the late Dean Lesher, who while alive was the scum of the earth. He demanded that reporters act as host and hostesses for his annual party for advertisers. I suggested that sucked eggs. He suggested I could work elsewhere. But to the point &mdash; do you have any experiences or thoughts on how people should be laid off? Posted by Steve E. Swenson &nbsp; en-us It's better than hearing about it on the evening news, accompanied by footage of your boss or CEO being led away from the building in handcuffs..... http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23366 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23366 It's better than hearing about it on the evening news, accompanied by footage of your boss or CEO being led away from the building in handcuffs..... When I and others got laid off, those of us who worked from home (including me) got laid off by phone.&nbsp; Under the circumstances, I don't consider that bad taste.<br /> .<br /> What <em>was</em> bad taste, and took place in email, was when a manager sent a company-wide email that joyfully announced the formal closing of my branch.<br /> .<br /> We victims of the layoff still had some email business to take care of -- thus we were exposed to that manager's callous celebration.<br /> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23370 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23370 When I and others got laid off, those of us who worked from home (including me) got laid off by phone.&nbsp; Under the circumstances, I don't consider that bad taste.<br /> .<br /> What <em>was</em> bad taste, and took place in email, was when a manager sent a company-wide email that joyfully announced the formal closing of my branch.<br /> .<br /> We victims of the layoff still had some email business to take care of -- thus we were exposed to that manager's callous celebration.<br /> My wife was upsized by a plastic surgeon! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23381 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23381 My wife was upsized by a plastic surgeon! Which wife was that, warren, does she have a number? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23382 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23382 Which wife was that, warren, does she have a number? You talking to downsized or upsized?&nbsp; If you were talking to me (husband of upsized), yes she has a number.... 38 DD.&nbsp; Double D's stand for DDang! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23383 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23383 You talking to downsized or upsized?&nbsp; If you were talking to me (husband of upsized), yes she has a number.... 38 DD.&nbsp; Double D's stand for DDang! Give them that Enzyte smile! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23388 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23388 Give them that Enzyte smile! <p>Not until the bill is paid.  Never knew how expensive saline solution could be.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23390 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23390 <p>Not until the bill is paid.  Never knew how expensive saline solution could be.</p> Er, Warren, I thought you loved corporate America.&nbsp; After all, you hate&nbsp;the guts&nbsp;of &quot;liberals&quot; who actually believe in evil commie ideas like worker protection.<br /> .<br /> You made your bed with all your hateful &quot;lib bashing.&quot;&nbsp; You got exactly the government that you demanded.&nbsp; Now lie in it.<br /> <br /> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23392 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23392 Er, Warren, I thought you loved corporate America.&nbsp; After all, you hate&nbsp;the guts&nbsp;of &quot;liberals&quot; who actually believe in evil commie ideas like worker protection.<br /> .<br /> You made your bed with all your hateful &quot;lib bashing.&quot;&nbsp; You got exactly the government that you demanded.&nbsp; Now lie in it.<br /> <br /> I have been laid off once and that was in the aftermath of the first space shuttle blowing up. They held on to us until Thanksgiving...and then promptly laid off half the company a week before the holiday..tacky and financially motivated I am sure. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23404 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23404 I have been laid off once and that was in the aftermath of the first space shuttle blowing up. They held on to us until Thanksgiving...and then promptly laid off half the company a week before the holiday..tacky and financially motivated I am sure. I got &quot;notice&quot; of being laid off once because someone found an article about the company online.&nbsp; Turns out, whenever you lay off more than 200 people, you're required to file a report with a state office.&nbsp; Our company employeed about 210. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23426 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23426 I got &quot;notice&quot; of being laid off once because someone found an article about the company online.&nbsp; Turns out, whenever you lay off more than 200 people, you're required to file a report with a state office.&nbsp; Our company employeed about 210. I'm just wondering WSJ, why didn't your wife sue?  I'm not one to advocate lawsuits, but given the fact your wife was five months pregnant and the mistreatment she was forced to take, I'd say it would have been justified. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23429 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23429 I'm just wondering WSJ, why didn't your wife sue?  I'm not one to advocate lawsuits, but given the fact your wife was five months pregnant and the mistreatment she was forced to take, I'd say it would have been justified. Radio Shack does have some strange middle management styles.&nbsp; For some reason they keep transferring managers from store to store every two years or so -- regardless of their performance.<br /> <br /> One such manager, whom I'll plug by first name, King, always gave excellent and personal service.&nbsp; I was loyal to his store and encouraged every Radio Shack shopper to patronize King's store.<br /> <br /> Then one day, King was gone.&nbsp; He was supposed to be transferred to a new store that was opening, but I never found him there.<br /> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23447 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23447 Radio Shack does have some strange middle management styles.&nbsp; For some reason they keep transferring managers from store to store every two years or so -- regardless of their performance.<br /> <br /> One such manager, whom I'll plug by first name, King, always gave excellent and personal service.&nbsp; I was loyal to his store and encouraged every Radio Shack shopper to patronize King's store.<br /> <br /> Then one day, King was gone.&nbsp; He was supposed to be transferred to a new store that was opening, but I never found him there.<br /> Where is this guy <a href="../../userprofile.php?user_id=273812">erikbako</a>, I would love to send him a box of cigars for his good judgement in making you out.. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23665 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23665 Where is this guy <a href="../../userprofile.php?user_id=273812">erikbako</a>, I would love to send him a box of cigars for his good judgement in making you out.. Geez you are so mean, but He can still enjoy the Castro specials, if he made you life miserable, well what the hell he was doing a public service. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23683 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2573/#c_23683 Geez you are so mean, but He can still enjoy the Castro specials, if he made you life miserable, well what the hell he was doing a public service.