400 at RadioShack are told by e-mail: You're outta here

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack notified about 400 workers by e-mail that they were being dismissed immediately as part of planned job cuts.

Employees at the Fort Worth headquarters got messages Tuesday morning saying: "The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated."

Company officials had told employees in 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."

Employees met with supervisors and human-resources personnel before leaving. At coffee-bar areas on each floor, the company provided boxes and plastic bags for employees to pack their personal belongings.

"Things went very smoothly. Everyone left very graciously and very professionally," Jackson said.

Derrick D'Souza, a management professor at the University of North Texas, said he had never heard of such a large number of laid-off employees being notified electronically. He said it could be seen as dehumanizing.

"If I put myself in their shoes, I'd say, 'Didn't they have a few minutes to tell me?' " D'Souza said.

The company said Aug. 10 it would cut 400 to 450 jobs, mostly at headquarters, to reduce expenses and "improve its long-term competitive position in the marketplace."

RadioShack has closed nearly 500 stores, consolidated distribution centers and liquidated slow-moving merchandise in an effort to shake out of a sales slump.