Hobby Lobby business practices

[metro]

Some good news in a down economy..........



Hobby Lobby hikes pay rate | NewsOK.com
Hobby Lobby hikes pay rate
More than 6,900 full-time workers will get raises, company announced
BY RANDY ELLIS
Published: April 15, 2009

Starting immediately, Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is granting pay raises to all full-time hourly employees who earn up to $13 an hour, company founder David Green said Tuesday.

The company also has established its own $10 minimum wage for all full-time employees.

"Our employees are the backbone of our company, and we believe that giving them the opportunity to share in our success is the right thing to do,” said Green, Hobby Lobby’s chief executive officer.

The raises will apply to employees of Hobby Lobby and its affiliated businesses, including Mardel and Hemispheres, he said. More than 6,900 employees throughout the corporation will receive pay increases, with some receiving nearly $600 more a month.

Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is a privately held retail chain of more than 400 arts-and-crafts stores in 33 states. The company’s revenue for 2008 was $1.8 billion.

While many retail businesses have struggled with the declining economy, Green said Hobby Lobby has continued to thrive.

"So far, by God’s grace, we’re doing well this year. We have approximately a 5 percent increase in same-store sales so far this year and about a 10 percent overall increase with new stores,” Green said.

The company plans to add 25 Hobby Lobby Stores and five Mardel stores this year, which will require the addition of about 1,000 employees to the company’s 18,000-person nationwide work force, he said.

Hobby Lobby’s new $10 minimum wage is 34.5 percent higher than the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour.

Not the first time
"This minimum wage increase is the most exciting initiative I’ve been involved with since I started the company,” Green said. "We believe the success of Hobby Lobby is directly attributable to our outstanding employees and our strong corporate values, which are based on biblical principles, including integrity, service to others and giving back to those in need.”
This is not the first time Hobby Lobby has given employees unexpected pay raises during trying financial times. Last year, when gasoline prices skyrocketed, Hobby Lobby gave workers permanent 25 cent per hour raises to help offset cost-of-living increases.

[kmf563]

Yes! Good news indeed.

[OKCMallen]

VERY commendable.

[Midtowner]

Good for them.

[Jesseda]

I think I might shop at hobby lobby more often now, if they are treating there employees well, I just wish other companies will look at this as an example. Most retail and sales, and warehouse employees dont get paid enough for what they do

[circuitboard]

I am not a Hobby Lobby fan, but this deserve recongniton for being a good thing. Good job Mr. Green.

[Bunty]

Well, the threats from the recent past to unionize Hobby Lobby, though without success, have done some good.

[GWB]

Well, the threats from the recent past to unionize Hobby Lobby, though without success, have done some good.

Oh really? Got any facts to back your fantasy up?

[kevinpate]

Some folks may not be in accord with the Green's views on their faith, but that's a family that regularly (and frequently very silently) walks their talk.

[ThomPaine]

Some folks may not be in accord with the Green's views on their faith, but that's a family that regularly (and frequently very silently) walks their talk.

I agree. I wish more professed "Christian" business owners would follow suit. Mr. Green and the gentleman who owns Chick-fil-A both seem to practice what they preach, and I applaud them for doing so.

[Pete]

Hobby Lobby to Raise Minimum Wage to $13/Hour

[WilliamTell]

great, i will make a point to shop at hobby lobby more often. its just so refreshing to hear about employees being treated well instead of being under the constant threat of decreased wages, outsourced work, and offshoring (all while CEO make millions).

[Easy180]

Even though the $13 probably doesn't go out to very many since I'm sure most are part time...$9 ain't too bad for part time work starting pay

[Larry OKC]

And its the 4th year in a row they have done this, even during the recession!

[Pete]

Hobby Lobby challenges federal mandate to provide 'morning-after' pills to employees

The owners of Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday claiming that the Health and Human Services “preventive services” mandate violates their rights of religious freedom and free speech.


Read more: Hobby Lobby challenges federal mandate to provide 'morning-after' pills to employees | NewsOK.com

[ctchandler]

Pete,
To clarify this a little, Obamacare requires employers to provide birth control medications at no cost to the employee. This means no "copay". I don't know Mr. Greens feelings about normal healthcare providing a portion of the cost. When my late wife was going through her problems, no meds were free but all were fairly good due to our excellent insurance and we simply paid a copay. I think the most we ever paid was $30. That's the way I read it in today's Oklahoman.
C. T.

[MadMonk]

Pete,
To clarify this a little, Obamacare requires employers to provide birth control medications at no cost to the employee. This means no "copay". I don't know Mr. Greens feelings about normal healthcare providing a portion of the cost. When my late wife was going through her problems, no meds were free but all were fairly good due to our excellent insurance and we simply paid a copay. I think the most we ever paid was $30. That's the way I read it in today's Oklahoman.
C. T.

According to the article, its the "emergency contraceptive" methods that they are opposed to being forced to provide coverage for.

Duncan said the Greens are not opposed to all forms of birth control, only emergency contraception such as the “morning-after” or “week-after” pills. The lawsuit refers to contraception methods such as Plan B, Ella and some intrauterine devices as “abortion-causing drugs and devices.”

"Emergency contraceptive" is a PC term for abortion-inducing. A better term would be "panic abortion".

[onthestrip]

According to the article, its the "emergency contraceptive" methods that they are opposed to being forced to provide coverage for.


"Emergency contraceptive" is a PC term for abortion-inducing. A better term would be "panic abortion".

Taking the morning after pill is not even close to the same as an abortion.

[MadMonk]

Taking the morning after pill is not even close to the same as an abortion.

Please elaborate the difference. I'm not up on the technical details of how each of these methods work, but it seem to me that if its done after conception, that would constitute abortion.

[kevinpate]

The petition has no direct bearing on the litigation itself. It's sole purpose would be to hope to influence the decision makers at HL to make a different decision, up to and including dismissing their lawsuit.

That hope and a few bucks will get one an overpriced cup of joe at Starbucks.

[soonerguru]

We will no longer be shopping at Hobby Lobby.

[kevinpate]

We will no longer be shopping at Hobby Lobby.

As is your choice as a consumer.
Irrespective of how this litigation resolves, I imagine my lovely will continue to shop there and at the local Mardells. She's rather fond of the selection in both stores.

[foodiefan]

As is your choice as a consumer.
Irrespective of how this litigation resolves, I imagine my lovely will continue to shop there and at the local Mardells. She's rather fond of the selection in both stores.

+1. . .and I'll probably go twice as often!

[venture]

+1. . .and I'll probably go twice as often!

So you'll go to Hobby Lobby twice as often because of this? Is that what I'm understanding?

I might agree or differ with a company owner's beliefs, but I'm not going to go out of my way to patronize them more than normal because of something like this. Just like the whole Chick-Fil-A thing. I don't agree with their owner's stance, but I'll still stop by there whenever I'm having an urge for their food. The people that change their own behavior and actions because of something like this are the very definition of "sheep" that the respective power players want to keep under their control.

[Bunty]

+1. . .and I'll probably go twice as often!

Do you also go twice as often now to Chick-fil-a?