Just happened.
13 replies (most recent on top)
We were the backbone of the company. So many talented people on the teams. We did everything that the stores did not want to do. I was one of the lucky ones and got out just in time. Good luck to all my brothers QMT'S
The official title of QMT stands for " Quality Maintainence Technician" JUST SAYIN.....
So sorry to hear this team was impacted. I worked with many QMTs on projects over the years ( before I left). Always so willing to help out, creative and talented. These guys are like part electrician, part, Carpenter, part plumber and in many cases, part craftsman. Anyone looking for a manitemance professional should hire anyone that has “QMT for Sears” on their resume - you will not regret hiring them because they are the best you’ll ever find. I’m
Had a good 20 year run and I knew it was coming but expected to last until at least Feb. I took care of 13 stores and thought I was going to last. Totally blew my mind when they totally eliminated the Facilities side. Good luck with the stores because I knew that HVAC like no one else in those stores and the stores are screwed because they will call in a service guy in and pay $$$ to just hit a reset button or relight a pilot on a heater. The last 500 stores are going to look like sh--e in a week.
Back in the 50s , 60s and 70s, most A stores were staffed with at least two FT maintenance engineers. Some stores got three. Store managers were in complete control of the payroll and hires. Chicago headquarters knew that the complicated workings of the store mechanicals needed upkeep .
There were also pockets of union staffed facilities throughout the country.
Some facilities were heated by high pressure , high horsepower steam boilers, which , by state law, required full time licensed boiler tenders 24/7. Many staff left during the transition to the QMT program , either voluntarily , buyout, or terminations .
Handwriting was on the wall back then in 1991.
@ido Oh wow, I didn't know they were originally designed for two or three techs per store! How long ago was that cut back to one per store (now less)? No wonder the stores are in such bad shape.
The stores will all be closed right after Christmas, so why keep a maintenance guy on staff?
Just pray the toilets don't stop working.
Every store was designed and built to be supported by two or three maintenance techs , but the higher skilled personell were scaled back long before it became fashionable in the rest of the company .
@wqe Store maintenance technicians. They're supposed to be able to do the same kinds of stuff like apartment maintenance technicians do, basically; most importantly HVAC repair. Every store used to have one, but they've been gradually laid off over the last several years and the remaining ones have to cover multiple stores.
Sears was trying to outsource it years ago. Looks like they'll finally get their wish.
Good luck with that lol.
QMT?
There is no money so there is no outside vendors. We do not need QMTs if we are going to close.
Can confirm this; email sent to every store from facilities managers. Now they're going to rely on outside vendors to do whatever QMTs did. (Because I'm sure those outside vendors will be SO trusting of a company that can't seem to pay any other vendors.)