Radio Shack E-Mail - You're Fired

Radio Shack has fired 400 workers via e-mail.   On Tuesday, Radio Shack employees at the company's headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas got the notice not to return to work due to cutbacks.

The e-mail read, "The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated."

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Company officials had told employees in a series of meetings that layoff notices would be delivered electronically, spokeswoman Kay Jackson said. She said employees were invited to ask questions before Tuesday's notification on a company Intranet site.

Jackson said the electronic notification was quicker and allowed more privacy than breaking the news in person.

"It was important to notify people as quickly as possible," she said. "They had 30 minutes to collect their thoughts, make phone calls and say goodbye to employees before they went to meet with senior leaders."

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Imagine getting an e-mail that you've been laid off.   Excuses and spin aside, expect wide criticism of the company in editorials and from worker's groups.

--Jeff Freeland writes from Texas