The woefully-mismanaged chain, which earlier this year announced it would cut 1,000 corporate jobs as part of a "Rewiring for Growth" plan, lost Kevin Walgreen this week, the great-grandson of founder Charles R. Walgreen.
It's worth it to mention that I worked at Walgreen's and it ranks among the worst jobs I've ever had for a variety of reasons. I have to hand it to them on this one, though, for alienating a guy who stocked the shelves as a young man and moved up through the company that his family built and carried through every economic turbulence of the 20th century and beyond.
The Chicago Tribune reports that he's not too keen on talking about it, either:
Walgreen, 45, left his post as senior vice president of store operations of the southern region for "personal reasons," according company spokesman Michael Polzin.
Kevin Walgreen, who gave his notice last week, told Polzin that he didn't want to comment further on his departure.
Blockbuster instilled me with my hatred of customers, but Walgreen's instilled me with my hatred of management, and the fact Kevin Walgreen left on the heels of 1,000 people getting axed from corporate seems to indicate he doesn't like the way things are being run. There is always the possibility he's quitting for something like a health concern or a family concern, but I'm not sure how likely that is considering his very DNA is composed of Walgreen's stock.
[An aside: I really must see about Patrick encountering a customer who huffily says he's a shareholder and having Patrick nod as if paying attention before pulling the Nagant and just blowing the guy's head off.]
In defense of the company, however, I have to say I'm pleased that they decided to lay off useless corporate leeches who sit around investing the company's liquid assets disastrously and/or coming up with bogus new sales strategies. After all, they could've fired a giant swath of clerks who actually do the work that keeps the whole miserable company running.
Considering they probably aborted several pensioned yes-men who were only days away from ending Walgreen's streak as the only chain store without some inane membership card that clerks are forced to push on customers, we should probably thank Walgreen's upper management and wish Kevin Walgreen (who many Walgreen's employees I know have actually met personally and, by the way, attest that he seems a sincere gentleman) good fortune for him and his family, and security in his future career.
rewiring....a swath of clerks, pharmacist and pharmacy technicians are being "FIRED" their taking on line test and intervewing for jobs that they have held for 20 years, voluntary seperation packages and involuntary packages being forced upon them in florida stores.
ReplyDeleteThis POWER program is being implemented as well. The HR has been very demeaning to the pharmacy technicians and don't care about the people who make the company, which is their greatest asset. They are laying off people without knowing the number they will need to successfully implement POWER. Additionally, the company-wide meetings introducing the program to the pharmacy employees was conducted very unbecoming of a professional environment. At one point, the HR corporate liason over POWER stated "[We] are all lucky to have another part of the company to go to unlike GM employees."
ReplyDeleteThis implementation has affected company morale across the entire state in a negative fashion. Sales will be impacted due to the widespread negativity. Most importantly, Walgreens will lose its true talent. The most talented human capital will jump ship to work for someone else, especially upon economic recovery. This is important, because Walgreens will be left with the underperforming on the payroll.
If I'm going to lose my job, don't be sly, demeaning and tell me its for the betterment of the customer experience. Be honest, professional and more importantly, mature about it.
Also lost my job as a FL Walgreens pharmacist due to POWER. Definitely not for the betterment of the customer eperience, infact, the opposite is true.
ReplyDeleteGoing for my interview soon. Honestly never felt so unsure in my life about my job.
ReplyDeletejust stubbled on this site the walgreens i worked for 25 years for is not the walgreens now. Kevin leaving was a loss to the company he was truly the heart and sole of this company. The family connection with the Walgreen company went hand and hand. I remember Kevin's father visiting our store in CA and he was such a great man as was Kevin.
ReplyDeleteAs a stock holder and employee or rather ex employee of 25 years I hope the company does good but I think CVS will give it a run
I am pleased to report that Walgreen's,soulless bastards that they may be, has seen the error of its ways and Kevin has rejoined the company. Perhaps now that the soul of the company has returned along with his sharp, focused mind, Walgreens can again become the icon that it once was.
ReplyDeleteSeveral pharmacist lost their jobs after Walgreens took over Duane reade
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be picking on the older pharmacist
any body have similair experiences