(edit title) Ikea's U.S. factory churns out unhappy workers From the Los Angeles Times Options

[Zill]

Ikea's U.S. factory churns out unhappy workers
A union-organizing battle hangs over the Ikea plant in Virginia. Workers complain of eliminated raises, a frenzied pace, mandatory overtime and racial discrimination.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ikea...0,5341610.story

[johansgirl]

I used to work for Ikea about 4 years ago, in the uk. They were really hard to work for, and the staff turnover is super high. I was hoping that once I learn Swedish, I could look for a job, but it definitely will not be at ikea!

[Nemesis]

Ikea's U.S. factory churns out unhappy workersA union-organizing battle hangs over the Ikea plant in Virginia. Workers complain of eliminated raises, a frenzied pace, mand ... (show full quote)

Ikea's U.S. factory churns out unhappy workers
A union-organizing battle hangs over the Ikea plant in Virginia. Workers complain of eliminated raises, a frenzied pace, mandatory overtime and racial discrimination.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ikea...0,5341610.story ... (hide full quote)

This statement "Europeans enjoy a minimum wage of about $19 an hour". Thats bullshit.

Working for IKEA in Ireland or the UK is not a good job and does not pay that well.

Which IKEA shop or factory pays that much?

[Furu]

This statement "Europeans enjoy a minimum wage of about $19 an hour". Thats bullshit.

The statement should have said "Norway".

[JulieLou40]

Ha ha. Too true

[swozzie]

Jeez I cant believe it - furu made a funny !

[Essingen]

At least IKEA is creating jobs in the US for US workers, unlike for example the takeover of Cadbury in the UK by the American food giant Kraft (but there again, aren't all Americans food giants ) which simply lead to factory closures.

[carlito9]

Yeah I agree. this is a real fun...I can believe in it

[Tdye]

(but there again, aren't all Americans food giants ) which simply lead to factory closures.

Ha! that is a good one right there!!
I mean cause every single American are fat and stupid hahah...great one!! hahaha

311,968,842 Americans are fat and nasty, we all over indulge and eat too much ha ha, and over consume, and spend money we dont have bla bla bla... There are 2 types of Swedish people I have met over the years,
1. you have the very intelligent Swedes and there are quite a few of them
and 2. You have the super uneducated Swedes that get all of their news from websites like aftonbladet.
and those Swedes are to stupid to even see past their own noses,they are the ones that know the "good america" like Disney world, and...well Disney world, oh and they know we have a black president.. and that is about as far as it goes in Education for those types of Swedes

Now im not calling you a number one or a number two, only you know witch one you are, because , I don't know you like you know me, and I also know that not all Swedish women are tall bland and sexy... not by far

but here is just a little advice for the nummer två svenskar out there... how about actually READ about america on quality sites and stop listening to crap you hear from your friends...oh one more thing..Sure Americans over spent, we are gluttons for things, buy buy buy...we are a nation of consumers, that's because we have a capitalist economy

Oh one more thing over half HATE our government, it is just we cant do anything about it
and tuck this little jewel in your pocket for later...If Americans didn't consume so much, you wouldn't be enjoying your perfect Swedish world

Again, Im not talking directly to YOU as a person, I am talking to all the number 2 Swedes out there, that are clearly uneducated because I As an american Loves Sweden and it's people...oh and also as an American, I would never clump everyone in one category... I like options..

[KeyonLo]

Three years after the massive facility has been opened, excitement has been over too. Ikea is the target of racial discrimination complaints, a heated union-organizing battle and turnover from disgruntled employees. Workers complain of eliminated raises, a frenzied pace and mandatory overtime. Several said it's common to find out on Friday evening that they'll have to pull a weekend shift with disciplinary action for those who can't or don't show up. On the contrary, a related article which I read from here Most employees prefer benefits over higher salary tackles moreover on providing employee a playful benefits. I find a big similarity as far as employee benefits is concerned.

[007]

it's a good lesson for ikea to not open factories in the US. the first article said that ikea was seeing the US the way the US sees mexico (which i find hysterically befittingly accurate) and set up factories in mexico and canada instead.

american managers are giving a swedish company a bad name.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

I read the article and find it a bit slanted...practices that are viewed as "bad" have been described out of context...many of the situations here have been experienced by me personally in my work career.

Some southern states have "right to work" laws which preclude unionization of the work force...is that the case here?...nothing was stated.

You probably will never hear of anyone being happy when a union wants "in".
I'll bet there are a lot of happy people working in that plant.

Some people never adjust to a volume production environment, and others thrive in it.

[Tarc the Mexan]

Ingvar Kamprad was an active Nazi in the 1940's, no wonder he treats the workers as slave labourers.

[skogsbo]

So were many Germans, 'most' have moved on and got over it, have you? When compared to the rest of the world did the USA actually ban slavery?

I presume all the managers in this factory are American, implementing their own policies. If it's a global ikea policy(which I'm certain it isn't) then wouldn't every ikea plant be complaining?

Ikea should just satisify it's initial contract obligations there and pull out of the US, let another nation have the income and employment, why let them create bad PR for Ikea?

[jack sprat]

Ingvar Kamprad was an active Nazi in the 1940's, no wonder he treats the workers as slave labourers.

The Leopard hasn't changed its spots.

Despite numerous attempts to gloss them over, they keep on showing through.