Get your diploma at McDonalds for Free

The London government has awarded McDonald’s, a rail company and an airline the right to award credits toward a high school diploma to employees who complete on-the-job training programs.

The government is giving the U.S. burger chain — along with a rail company and an airline — the right to award credits toward a high school diploma to employees who complete on-the-job training programs.
The plan, announced Monday, is part of a push to improve skills among young people and offer even workers who dropped out of school years ago a chance to gain official qualifications.
It’s the first time commercial companies have been allowed to award nationally recognized academic credits for their own workplace training plans. Experts and business leaders had a mixed reaction to the plan, already being dubbed “McQualifications.”
McDonald’s employees will initially be offered a “basic shift manager” course to train staff in everything they need to know to run a McDonald’s outlet — from hygiene to customer service.

One of the biggest gripes among retailers is their complaint that frontline employees lack education and skills. They go on to complain that our education system is not adequately preparing young people for the work force. London has taken a radical step in a good direction by allowing companies to help educate the workforce.

Not only will this help the employees gain credit toward a diploma it will give the much needed training and skills that will help the business deliver a higher level of customer service which will lead to a healthier bottom line.

Do you think this is a good idea?

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Sprint Nextel to cut 4,000 Jobs and close 125 Stores

Sprint Nextel Corp.’s stock plunged Friday after the wireless carrier said it will cut 4,000 jobs and close 125 retail locations in response to a steep drop in its customer base.

Sprint shares plummeted nearly 25 percent, prompting analysts to forecast even more cuts in the coming months as the nation’s third-largest wireless carrier struggles to compete with AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless.

The layoff of about 6.7 percent of Sprint’s work force and closure of 8 percent of its stores is to be completed in the first half of the year. Sprint said in a news release that the cuts will trim labor costs by $700 million to $800 million a year.

What do you think Sprint Nextel can do to fix their problem?:

A. Better service plans
B. More attractive phones
C. Improve customer service
D. Lower their prices

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Wake up and smell the coffee, before you get burned

transactions per store falling for the first time ever during the company’s fourth quarter, which ended Sept. 30.

In retaking the reins of Starbucks Corp., Howard Schultz will have to fix a coffee empire that he says has become stifled by bureaucracy and has lost the courage that helped it change how Americans get their coffee.

Starbucks ousted CEO Jim Donald yesterday and said that, effective immediately, Mr. Schultz, the chairman, will take on the additional role.

Once one of the hottest growth stocks, Starbucks shares were at $18.38 at 4 p.m. yesterday, down 48% from the $35.14 price a year ago. After the news, announced after the close of the market, shares of Starbucks rose $1.65, or 9%, to $20.03.

What do you think has contributed to Starbucks decline?

A. The price of their products
B. The store experience
C. Front line employees
D. Something else

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Retailers find another Holiday to Celebrate

No so fast, just when you thought the holiday shopping had ended, you are slightly incorrect.
A growing number of retailers are promoting the Hispanic tradition of celebrating Three Kings Day every Jan. 6 as a way to extend the buying season past Christmas and connect with Hispanic customers.
El Día de los Reyes celebrates the day in Christian tradition when the three wise men visited the baby Jesus.
Known as the Epiphany, the day is as important as Christmas in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain and many Latin American countries. Children put their shoes out the night before or leave grass for the wise men’s camels. They wake the next day to unwrap presents.
This means that there are two more weeks of shopping for many beleaguered retailers.
Do you think retailers are sincere about celebrating this Holiday or just cashing in?

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