Nordstrom ‘Guilty’ of Rewarding Initiative, but Others Also Require Work ‘Off the Clock’

Let me get this straight. Quoting from the article: “Stories of some Nordstrom workers making $40,000 to $60,000 or more a year thanks to hefty commissions are widespread.” Thus, the system allows $9-per-hour ($18,000 per year, full-time) employees with enthusiastic customer orientation (coupled with the willingness to manage their sales-per-hour ratio) to more than double and triple their base pay. The union is upset about this and wants the company to do away with the system. Then everyone, not just employees who choose not (or have not the sales skills) to better themselves through hard work, can earn just $9 per hour with minimal effort.

Good idea! Then Nordstrom’s famous customer-service orientation will disappear, Nordstrom will become just another high-end department store and its lowly paid employees will be dependent on the almighty union to look out for their interests. Nordstrom, of course, will go out of business because of inability to compete in the market, thus ending its history of repression that allows people to be paid for their efforts and abilities. Another union victory! Good job, America.

GREG MEYER

Los Angeles