Scheels is unfair | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

My wife and I visited the new Scheels sports megastore in Sandy. While talking to a sales associate, I was surprised and shocked to learn that fully two-thirds of the employees are part-timers, for whom the company doesn't have to provide any benefits, including health care.

When I asked about this, the store manager told me that Scheels gives employee discounts but that the employees don't want benefits. Say what?

He said that most are under 25 years of age and are college students on their parents' insurance. Well, duh! If Scheels doesn't pay a living wage with benefits, then anyone with a family cannot afford to work there. A discount on a fishing lure or sweatshirt does not help you buy groceries or pay medical bills.

This is a case of a business taking advantage of its employees to increase its bottom line. Not only is it crass, it is a huge disservice to our community.

Fortunately, there are plenty of other shopping opportunities in our valley where employees are treated fairly.

Wayne Belka

Midvale