Retail Considers "The Golden Rule"

Could a new business philosophy influence the amount and quality of service offered by retailers? Macy's West is banking on it.

Although its considered “old economy,” Macy's West, the San Francisco division of Federated Department Stores, was featured in The New York Times for its progressive spin on management training. In short, Macy's West wants managers to be nice to the employees to curb turnover.

This is a growing trend in the American workplace. With unemployment at a 30-year low, supervisors have to give more — a Gallup poll indicates that workers value a caring boss above salaries and fringe benefits.

As part of Macy's West pilot program, managers are informed that how well they retain people under them affects up to 35 percent of their compensation. Further, new managers are also assigned a mentor to (presumably) teach them positive employee relations.

We'll have to visit Macy's West one busy night to see if it's working. How's Dec. 23rd sound?