Your story is definitely a true one. JC was my employer for more than 2 years. I would like to be the one to say that it is the people that are employed in a particular location that gives the company a bad name, but the truth is the bucks start at the top with this company.

I worked as a supervisor for the company for more than 2 years. The things that I heard and saw was despicable. I made an effort to report it to my District Manager and on several attempts I was blocked by friends of the store manager at a higer level. After 2 years I took it upon myself to walk up to him while the store manager and her assistant was in conference with him (distric manager) on the upper level of the store's children divison. Even then, it was a hard sell.

In my two years employed in the store, lower level employees were threatened with physical bodily harm by other member higher than themselves. Weapons were drawn on member of the store and on eternal cuctomers who do business with the store. Cars were keyed in the parking lot when or if reports were made on the culprit. I spent most of time comforting the people on the verge of breakdown. In short I witnessed a living nightmare and the store manager found the incidents laughable.

I don't make these statement lightly. My direct supervisor caused bodily injury to one of the staff in a fit of anger, but was allowed the benefit of the doubt when the incident was reported and I had to actually put my job on the line to expose her. I think the hardest thing for me with the company was to wtiness the treatment of the people that worked under my supervision. I was in a constant tug of war with my superiors.

The method in which the seasonal employees were hired was a major issue for me. I was not allowed input on the best workers when time came for letting the seasonal work go, it was up to a tight knit group of 4 people with one of them being the person that create most of the issues in that particular store. Innocent people was abused on a daily basis to the point of tears. The buddy system was used. Lots of innocent people suffered and still do suffer because of the need for work.

Needless to say, I stayed long enough to relieve some of the suffering in that store. It did not come from help within the company, I had to resort to making my report outside of the company, but it did get better and I was greeted each day by less tears and more smile. I left the company months ago, but I still keep in contact with a few friends. My only hope is that for the short time that I was there, I was able to instill in them how valuable they were and the fact that they deserve better than what they got with JC Penny. Hopefully the failing economy will take care of the rest and then the people I left behind can start anew once this recession has end....and with a better company

I must say JC Penny was the worst company I have work for in my 45 years of working among companies in and out of South florida.

JC Penney has not been a great place to work...

Sorry. But, this article was written by a copy write hired by the company to increase the JC Penney brand and image.

In any case, the aforementioned article is simply not the truth (as far as how employees are treated).

I was hired on by JC Penney for seasonal help and told that I would most likely be kept on as a regular (by the manager of the apartment). So, I awaited patiently to hear back from HR and find out whether or not I would be kept on after Christmas only to hear nothing..

In these types of stores, one it generally at the mercy of the management for decisions and can only inquire as to what their fate is quietly..and usually no clear answer of yes or no is given.

I found out I was being layed off, when I went to check my schedule and found that I was not scheduled to work any hours after Christmas. When I asked the hiring manager whether or not I was being kept on after Christmas, I got a light hearted reply that he didn't know. He would inquire with the store manager to see..They hadn't gotten around to giving out pink slips to those they were planning on laying off yet... Mind you, this is one week before I would have no hours or job.

It wasn't the fact that I was being layed off that was most unsettling. I knew it could happen, but I was given no notice at all. Management kept us in limbo and when I did ask a direct question, still not yes or no. I still have not been given formal notice that I am being layed off.

..So, after the discovery that I would have no job. And with no formal answer from management, I was quite aggravated. How could I work the busy season and act like I care? I felt used and unappreciated. Expendable. Meanwhile, customers hurried about with their christmas shopping. But, I was left to wonder how I would pay my bills after this next paycheck and if I could even afford to buy christmas presents. Sadly, the answer was no.

If you want a good job, do not go to penny's or target or any other low-paying retail store. They are not concerned about people. They are concerned about making sales goals, meeting their credit application goal, and checking customers out as fast as they can. Associates work full-time and are expected to provide outstanding customer service, yet they earn a paycheck that will barely allow them to pay their bills or make any reasonable living.

And if this isn't bad enough, did I mention that the average work week for JC Penney employees is usually about 32-35 hours and this does not include the 30 minute unpaid lunches that must be also be taken on account of labor laws. And that's all on a wage of about 8.50 an hour.

If I sound like a disgruntled employee, it's because I am. These are hard truths.

And while some of you might ask, why doesn't this person get loans and go to college? Well, I have. I have been looking for a job that meets my qualifications for 3 months now and I will have to keep looking. I have never had to apply for unemployment in my life until now.