Retail workers face layoffs and erratic schedules as holiday season ends

Retailers shed thousands of temporary staff come January but even permanent workers face drastic cuts in hoursWhen Emmett Foster started working at the Amazon clothing plant in Norristown, Pennsylvania, last September as a contracted employee, he was under the impression that as long as he received his certifications for T-shirt printing and quality control, he would be kept on as a permanent employee after the holiday season.“We knew the day was coming when they would make their cuts. The