Friday, June 19, 2015

Loblaws claws back bonus

Loblaws paid about 20 employees in Surrey, British Columbia, bonuses when they faced wage cuts because their store was being converted to the Your Independent Grocer banner.

For some, such as Connor Greenwell, it amounts to thousands of dollars.

She got $15,000, invested it in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan, then got his with a demand that she give back $6,262.50.

It’s reminiscent of Loblaws’ heavy-handed tactics last year when it simply deducted a percentage from invoices submitted by its suppliers.

Farmers had little choice but to swallow the decreases because they need Loblaws, which is Canada’s largest supermarket business, as customers.

Sobey’s also employed the discount squeeze on its suppliers.

Somebody ought to convince these supermarket giants that these heavy-handed tactics negate tens of millions they spend on advertising, public relations and lobbying.