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Borders US is set to engage on yet another round of jobs cuts, having cut positions at its head office twice in the past year. This time Borders is to eliminate 742 management positions throughout its superstores and Waldenbook Specialty outlets, about 3% of its workforce.
At Borders superstores, 679 jobs were eliminated, with the company focusing on reducing the number of manager and supervisor positions in its superstores. No changes were made at the general manager level. In addition to the changes at Borders superstores, the company also eliminated 63 jobs within its Waldenbooks Specialty Retail segment. Again, all store managers remain in place, but a variety of other manager and supervisor positions, as well as additional roles in approximately 47 stores within the mall-based chain, were eliminated.
Borders group chief executive Ron Marshall said: "Every retailer operating today must manage their business prudently, including staffing stores to maintain strong customer service levels while also making sure that payroll investments align with the reality of sales. As we've said in the past, no one likes to eliminate jobs, but reducing the number of leadership positions in our stores was a necessary step as we streamline and focus our payroll investment on the sales floor, where we actively engage with customers and meet their needs -- that's what our business is all about."