Labor & Employment

The Kroger Co. is offering early retirement to approximately 2,000 corporate employees.   The offer does not include store and district associates, senior officers, and supermarket division presidents.  It is part of the chain’s effort to lower expenses without directly impacting shoppers.   

Pier 1 Imports Inc. reported better-than-expected results for its third quarter amid strong online sales.   The home decor retailer said it is still looking for a CEO to succeed Alex Smith, who steps down at year-end. It appointed company chairman Terry London to fill in as interim president and CEO, effective Jan. 1.  

Rent-A-Center has appointed Lety Nettles to fill the newly created position of VP of digital integration.   Most recently she served as a technology executive designing integration framework and change practices for Walmart.      

CVS Health has embarked on a three-step streamlining initiative with a goal of saving approximately $3 billion from 2017 to 2021.     Two-thirds of the savings will be seen in CVS’s retail/long-term care segment, with the remaining one-third of savings seen in the pharmacy benefits manager category.        

With most of the business community absorbed in the quadrennial D.C. parlor game of parsing cabinet picks and what they might mean for their industry's agenda going forward, little attention has been paid to what lies ahead for the labor community.  

Popular CBS reality show “Undercover Boss” will kick off its upcoming season with back-to-back one-hour episodes on Dec. 21 featuring two CEOs of national retailers.   The show’s first hour will feature Sharon Price John, president and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, who will learn how building bears and other furry animals isn't all fun and games. For a video preview, click here.  

Still on the hunt for a new chief executive, Pier 1 Imports has tapped its chairman to serve in the role on an interim basis.     The home furnishings and décor retailer has appointed Terry E. London, chairman of the board, to the position of interim president and CEO. His appointment takes effect on January 1, 2017, in conjunction with the planned departure of Alex W. Smith, the current president and CEO of Pier I, on December 31, 2016.  

The new year will bring a new finance chief to Tailored Brands.  

American Apparel witnessed a bright light in its ongoing financial saga.   The beleaguered specialty retailer has court approval to use the remainder of its $30 million bankruptcy loan. American Apparel filed Chapter 11 in November, its second filing in 15 months.   

Lidl has made bold moves this week in preparation of its upcoming United States launch.   The company has acquired the site of an industrial building in Philadelphia’s Port Richmond neighborhood, which could be the chain’s first location in Philadelphia, according to philly.com.