Management

Disney Factory Faces Sweatshop Suicide Claims in China
August 29, 2011

Disney's best-selling "Cars" toys are being made in a factory in China that uses child labor and forces staff to do three times the amount of overtime allowed by law, according to an investigation. One worker reportedly killed herself after being repeatedly shouted at by bosses. Others cited worries over poisonous chemicals. Disney has now launched its own investigation.

Change.org Urges 1,000 Toy Stores to Stop Selling Live Frogs
August 26, 2011

More than 1,000 people across the U.S. have joined a campaign on Change.org calling on toy retailer Learning Express to stop selling live frog "EcoAquariums." Laura Goldman, an animal welfare blogger, launched the campaign on Change.org after learning that live African dwarf frogs were being sold in 4-square-inch plastic cubes.   

Dillard's Divisional Merger Will Eliminate 66 Workers in St. Louis
August 26, 2011

Dillardโ€™s said it's offered to relocate 66 St. Louis employees whose jobs have been eliminated from the department store retailerโ€™s merger of two merchandising divisions. Dillardโ€™s is merging its St. Louis merchandising division with another in Little Rock, Ark. The St. Louis division is slated to close Oct. 23.

US Investigating Work Conditions for Foreign Students at Hershey Warehouse
August 26, 2011

The U.S. Labor Department said that it had opened two investigations into working conditions for foreign cultural-exchange students employed at a Hershey Co. candy warehouse in central Pennsylvania. At the same time, the organizations responsible for employing the students were seeking to resolve a standoff with them by offering a week's paid vacation and cultural-enhancing day trips to Philadelphia, Amish country, and Gettysburg.

American Apparel Employee Killed by Knitting Machine
August 23, 2011

A 49-year-old man employed at an American Apparel factory in Garden Grove, Calif., was "crushed by a circular knitting machine," according to a report on the Orange County coroner's website.

Starbucks Pays For Firing Dwarf Barista
August 22, 2011

Starbucks will pay $75,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed when a barista who has dwarfism was fired after asking for a stool. During Elsa Sallard's training in 2009, a manager decided that she would pose a danger to customer and employees and let her go. In addition to the settlement, Starbucks will provide training on disability issues to managers and supervisors at stores in El Paso, Texas.

Esprit Exploring Sale of US, Canadian Operations
August 19, 2011

Esprit is exploring the sale of its U.S. and Canadian operations, according to three people familiar with the matter. Rothschild in New York has been hired to advise Esprit, said the people, who declined to be identified because the process isnโ€™t public. The assets are likely to be shown to a number of private-equity funds, said one of the people.

'Jersey Shore' Answers Abercrombie
August 18, 2011

Mike โ€œThe Situationโ€ Sorrentino has something to say about retailer Abercrombie & Fitchโ€™s offer to pay him to wear another brandโ€™s clothing on โ€œJersey Shore.โ€ โ€œLooks like Abercrombie got themself into a Situation!โ€ the MTV reality star tweeted, followed by a link to a CNN finance article noting that the brandโ€™s stock had dipped by nine percent.

Sears Names New Finance Chief
August 17, 2011

Sears Holdings announced that Robert Schriesheim will join the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Schriesheim will assume his responsibilities as CFO effective Aug. 22. Schriesheim, 51, most recently was CFO for Hewitt Associates, leading the company's global financial and administrative roles until its merger with Aon Corp.