Labor & Employment

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. -- Seventy-four percent of workers report they are concerned that the U.S. fiscal cliff will lead to layoffs, according to a survey released Thursday by career transition and talent development consulting firm Lee Hecht Harrison.

In December, the firm surveyed more than 200 workers throughout the U.S. via an online poll asking, “Are you concerned that the U.S. fiscal cliff will lead to layoffs in your organization?” The results were as follows:
Very much 40%; Moderately 22%; 
Slightly 12%; Not at all 26%.

New York City -- A Wednesday report by MarketWatch said that a potential strike by nearly 15,000 dock workers at 14 ports from Boston to Houston beginning on Sunday may derail retailers’ spring selling as well.

Is your company’s selection process for a service provider exposing you to a higher degree of liability? As an expert witness of risk and liability in exterior maintenance services, I’ve reviewed hundreds of cases whose outcomes would surprise and challenge how many facility managers and property owners review Request for Proposals (RFPs) and select their service provider (SP).

Total losses attributed to retail shrinkage hit $34.5 billion last year, “positioning retail crime as the largest form of property crime,” according to Dr. Richard Hollinger, professor of criminology, law and society, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. And it shows no signs of easing anytime soon. Indeed, the rate of shrink remains on a five-year climb, according to the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC), Gainesville, Fla.

Retail chains are keeping a sharp eye on IT solutions that will deliver a fast return on investment and streamline business operations. A step in the right direction is to transition a legacy-based applications to the cloud, but a lack of understanding among the corporate hierarchy can slow efforts.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., president and CEO Mike Duke claims to love working for a company where success and size have resulted in high expectations, but that love affair may be ending in 2013.

Leading U.K. retailer J. Sainsbury named Jean Tomlin to its board as a non-executive director, effective January 1, 2013.

Tomlin’s appointment follows the previously announced retirement of Anna Ford from her role as non-executive director, effective December 31. In addition to her overall board contribution, Tomlin will chair the company’s corporate responsibility committee and sit on the remuneration and nomination committees.

ISELIN, N.J. — Domino Sugar has donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross for relief and rebuilding efforts in the Northeast following Hurricane Sandy.

New York -- J.C. Penney Co. has hired Brandon Tonniges, a former Abercrombie & Fitch Co. executive, as director of visual merchandising, Bloomberg reported.

Tonniges was a VP in Abercrombie’s “brand senses” division, described on the chain’s website as the “creative force” behind its store experience, according to the report.

Tonniges will report to a VP under Michael Fisher, who was named SVP visual presentation in March.

New York -- Walgreens fiscal first-quarter earnings dropped nearly 26% as costs tied to a couple big deals and Hurricane Sandy helped put a bigger-than-expected dent in the chain's performance.

Walgreens earned $413 in the quarter million, compared with net income of $554 million in the year-ago period. Sales fell 4.6% to $17.32 billion, with same-store sales down 8%.