Human Resources

New York – Best Buy is cutting 2,400 employees, including 1,800 store employees and 600 Geek Squad technical support associates, employees, as it seeks to restructure operations, the Associated Press reported.

The layoffs amount to about 1.4% of the company’s total staff of 167,000. A Best Buy spokesman, Bruce Hight, said the cuts were part of the company’s “ongoing turnaround plan,” according to the report.

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Hilco Trading has named Gary Epstein as chief marketing officer for the company. Epstein will be responsible for Hilco’s overall marketing strategy and execution, branding, market research, etc. across all of the operating companies. Epstein will be taking over the role from Rick Kaye, who has held the position for more than 10 years and will remain with the organization as an EVP until January 2013.

SKOKIE, Ill. — Topco Associates announced that Andrew Broccolo has joined the company as general counsel. In this new position Broccolo, 46, will report directly to Topco president and CEO Randy Skoda.

“I’m thrilled that Andy is now part of our leadership team,” Skoda said. “Andy will be instrumental in helping Topco effectively manage risk while also providing sound legal advice that assists us in driving our day-to-day business of delivering value to the association’s 52 members.”

According to the Employment Situation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate held at 8.2%. Nonfarm payroll employment continued to edge up in June, with 80,000 jobs added.

Professional and business services added 47,000 jobs in June, while health care added 13,000 jobs and wholesale trade added 9,000 in June.

Not too long ago, I interviewed Christy Parra, who is the logistics director for The Container Store. The interview was for an article on the company’s deployment of a voice-directed picking system in its distribution center. But what struck me throughout our discussion was the context in which Parra framed the new technology: It had as much to do with the employees as it did efficiencies and cost savings.

Allegations of worker abuse prompted Walmart to suspend a small seafood supplier earlier this week pending the outcome of an investigation, according to a Reuters report.

New York -- White House officials have agreed to meet with members of the retail industry to discuss issues associated with implementation of the health reform law, responding to the industry's July 2 letter urging the administration to immediately release “long overdue” regulations that would allow employers to move forward on the law's requirements.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Educational toy manufacturer LeapFrog Enterprises announced that chief financial officer Mark Etnyre has resigned from the company in order to spend more time with his family and pursue personal interests. The resignation will be effective as of Oct. 1.