Dear Hobby Lobby CEO,
I want to tell you a story about how your corporation has affected my family. When we got the word that a Hobby Lobby store was opening up in our little city of Palm Coast, we became excited. It was promising to see a Christian organization that shared our values opening as a local business in our community. We became even more thrilled when we learned about job opportunities being offered to our residents. You see, my husband’s job was about to end. He was working as a parent coordinator to parents of children who have been deemed “at risk”. The position he held was grant funded and those funds were ending. His dream has been to work in ministry. As a matter of fact, he also runs a nonprofit ministry/thrift store designed to help the community. Unfortunately, the shop doesn’t bring in very much money. As a matter of fact, anyone who works there does so as a volunteer. Most times, he’s just trying to keep the doors open so he can help those who come in looking for assistance. He had been on the hunt for a job and the timing of your store opening seemed perfect. My husband and I prayed to God that His Will would be done. He went to the job fair and was offered a ‘temporary with the possibility of becoming permanent’ position with Hobby Lobby. His job was to help prepare the store for opening day. We were so excited for this opportunity. We had prayed so hard and it seemed God was finally answering our prayers.
Before his first day, we prayed and felt God say, if Mike (my husband) worked hard and showed enough effort, God would honor that with a permanent position. Each day Mike went to work with a cheerful mind and having new hope for this opportunity that had been afforded to him. After three weeks of hard, butt busting work, the store opened and Mike was one of the few employees that lasted to the opening day. We honestly believed he had made it. He was finally seeing the fruits of his labor come to fruition. That is, until, about a week after the store opened. Mike went to work to check the schedule and noticed he’d only been given one day of work for four hours. As he looked around the room he noticed other employees checking their schedules and crying. They were devastated because they’d all worked so hard and they honestly thought they were being kept permanently. Furthermore, there were some employees who had one or two days (12 hours maximum) while others were being given 30-40 hours. Please understand, I realize you have a business to run and not everyone can be offered full time employment however, I think it’s unfair to schedule individuals for only 4-8 hours each week. No one can survive on that kind of income. Additionally, there are plenty of studies showing a link between successful corporations and valued/happy employees. I’d never suggest you reward employees who don’t work hard or don’t do a good job. I’m someone who believes in the value of work ethic. I believe you get ahead by working hard and going above and beyond. However, I believe your store in Palm Coast just isn’t operating correctly when it comes to valuing their employees.
Each week Mike goes in and checks the schedule hoping for more hours to support our family and each week he comes home having a maximum of 10-12 hours for the pay period. We pray diligently and constantly for God to open and close the doors He feels are best suited for Mike. I have watched him do anything and everything he can to be a good, hardworking employee. I’ve watched him go above and beyond every single day while trusting that God has a plan for all of this. Finally, I’ve watched him come home looking like the wind was taken from his sails and feeling defeated. He has applied for job after job after job and nothing has opened in our favor. And truthfully, he enjoys working at Hobby Lobby. He just needs more hours.
Now, you don’t know my husband but let me tell you, he is a walking talking breathing miracle of God. He was struck by a drunk driver at 8 years old. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma. His mother was told he may not survive and if she believed in God, she should pray. She had the whole county praying for my husband and miraculously, he survived. Not only did he survive, but he surpassed their expectations. Now, he has suffered some lasting effects from his accident. He has a mild case of Tourette’s syndrome, ADD, OCD, and some issues commonly related to those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Despite all of these things, he has always been one to rise above and show others how God’s Grace has brought him through these trials. He has never used his accident as an excuse for anything. He has a great appreciation and understanding for how God works. Honestly, he has more faith than anyone I’ve ever met. He gets up each day, thanks God for the life he has been given, and steps out in faith showing the love of Jesus to those he meets.
I’m not asking for anything in particular. I’m just sending you this because I’m a wife who has watched my husband break down with disappointment and there’s nothing I can do to help him. He has gone to the manager and asked for more hours, he’s let them know he’s willing to come in any time and day, he’s applied at other places despite being happy to be part of the Hobby Lobby family, and he has handed this over to God in hopes that somehow, some way His plan will shine through all of this. I guess I just felt led to send this to you in hopes there’s something you can do.
Sincerely,
Angela, wife of Mike.
