Thread regarding Macy's Inc. layoffs

The people sitting on the top have no idea what AST dust, they never have. We Work harder the most positions in store level, but however I’ve been appreciated for less than anyone. They let us go good for them, see how it runs without us. And they forget most of us have been around too long we’ve seen all the dirt. Lawsuits will be coming

That’s a fact! My DME is a freaking id–t, he cried to get his promotion. Literally! Yesterday he asked me if overtime starts at 40 hours!!! I just shook my head because I could not believe this is the id–t the company wants to put to lead their people. I’ll be fine and I’ll move on but it’s really a shock to see how much this company cares about their colleagues. Look at what you mean to your company. First it was HR gone, now you want
To throw someone who has no HR skill into a job that required knowledge of local labor laws knowledge of handling difficult situations or even being able to mediate between conflicting managers and colleagues? ARE YOU PEOPLE DUMB?
And what? Keep your ASTS as a full timer so he/she can still do the job with no benefits?
I’m happy if I get my severance, my part to
Play in this sh– show is over. No love lost because I genuinely appreciate the time I was with the company but I’m grateful to get out of the titanic before it sinks!

What about PT AST? Are they needed anymore?

I can go on and on as to why an ASTS is capable of moving into the MBA position. First off, ASTS are exposed to way more functions and people(especially on a regional and district level) than any other executive. Now, it has been up to the individual ASTS to do more than the bare minimum, utilize what they’ve been exposed to and to show that they can grow within the company. So, to say that an ASTS is not capable of the MBA position without knowing the background of each ASTS, is nonsense. That’s why the decision should be made at store level based on the individual and not a global decision based on their current role. Also, let’s not forget, most people aren’t placed into jobs based on what they know, you can be an id–t and still get promoted as long as you’re well liked and have great reviews.

where did is say AST is being eliminated?? I think it states that the AST supervisor role will be eliminated and AST will be overseen by the new MBA position. Also, some AST functions will go to the managers which makes sense. I assume some of the ops portions. AST will be solely for the vault and the HR admin piece.

The company should just mirror a structure to the way it was before. A small dedicated vault group that can be part time and do the vault and have an "office manager" and an HRA. Throw a couple flex people in to make sure you have adequate staffing and you are done.

Losing our ast? What mo–n is making these decisions? God help the person who takes the new position. There is nothing magical about Macy's anymore.

So fulfillment manager will be eliminated ? And ASTS will combine ?

MBA is just a fancy title like Customer Experience Manager. The CEM oversaw AYS & fulfillment. Now that the CEM will be focused on fulfillment & reporting to one of the split Ops positions, they will need someone to cover AYS/BOPS/BOSS. Yes, sales managers can report their business at a round robin or to JG, but honestly most of them were just cramming numbers before store visits anyways. ASTS' are just as capable as any sales manager to talk about business growth. Their business will just be about BOPS & BOSS. For those that don't know all the extra things that an AST does outside of the scope of their job description (which includes the same responsibilities as an SM), then I can see why one would think they aren't qualified to be an MBA.

will they get rid of flex ast positions??? crazy if they do as they cost the company nothing.

Will growth stores have both an OAPM and an MBA?

when they only had a office manager and HRA.
but the also had dedicated vault staff.

they should go back to that. ast's job is basically hr admin things.

"MBA position is technical an ASM with AST functions add to it.?

cutting out the middle....the ASTS. it makes sense.

Way before AST department was created, there was only one admin person in the office. I’m seeing they are going back to the old days.

Sales manager yes but not MBA because ASTS are not able to present at round robin or to Jeff about P&L or merchandise trends or customer trends or projection of the development in the mall or how much dollar per square foot it would bring in if we do this or how much dollar per dime we spend when we participate with the local organization etc.

MBA position is technical an ASM with AST functions add to it.

in neighborhood stores did they cut the ASTS jobs?

I would like to see the sales managers do some of the AST jobs.

ASTS could go into the position. It would be just the same as becoming a SM. There are no rules as to who can be promoted. It makes no sense as to why you would say that an ASTS could not become a sales manager or and MBA. Unless you never stepped out of the AST office/roll, you should be on the top of the list to go into that position. It was the move that was made in the Neighborhood stores a couple of years ago. And, yes the ASTS moved right into that position.

I don’t see why any AST associates would have to be laid off even if the ASTS becomes a regular FT associate unless the company will cut AST budgeted hours. Remember, ASTS are apart of the AST team hours. Also, not all stores have FT AST associates, some only have PT and on calls. Lastly, if an ASTS goes into a regular FT position, how does that save the company money if the ASTS doesn’t take a pay cut? Most ASTS are paid low and fall within the pay rate range of a regular AST associate. The only benefit change would be no more “It’s your time days” and receiving full pay while on short term disability. The only way the company saves money, in my opinion, is if the ASTS position is completely cut and the AST budgeted hours are cut as well. Otherwise, it’s just a title change.

So they are going to cut the ASTS position and just have AST colleagues reporting to the MBA. Makes sense cutting out some of the middle.

The only HR functions this MBA will be overseeing is hiring and HR administration. The company is heading in the 3rd party HR direction like many other companies like Amazon.

ASTS can be put into a sales manager posing the store manager see it’s the right fit.

The idea is, as I’m guessing, the majority of the task that AST does, I’m saying 75%, can be done by sales manager and AskHR. Only a few tasks that the store need an AST are hiring process and cash office. So each store would need just a FT AST and if it’s a bigger store maybe you get 2 FTs.

You can say AskHR is a joke all you want but, and I’m sad to say, this is what the company is heading and either you’re in or you’re out.

HSQ is a different story. HSQ has always been an exception to the rule. They are a totally different beast so I don’t have any information about it.

If this does happen and true, it would be nice if this new position of MBA played a bigger HR role. The lack of HR representation in big stores is a problem. There are so many things that go on and there is no support for manager's. And if you are in a union store it can be worse. This MBA position would be a great liaison with employee relations and other HR areas of the country. Ask HR just does not cut it like having representation in the company.

If this is a new position, then if an ASTS was interested they would have to interview for it.

So what I don't understand, are they doing away with ASTS positions?? What does this mean? "The only option for ASTS is to take a FT AST associate and layoff the current AST associate?" What are they cutting??

Also, in HSQ, the AST supervisors report to the an AST manager which does some of these functions, but not store budget. In HSQ, AST does not report to store managers, as they are in a different office on a different floor. AST is a more of a store services job than ops. Is this the direction the rest of company is going?

EEOC people!!! HR managers were canned, supervisors changed to fancy MBA, (go get your MBA's by the way while we are on the subject if you haven't done so already) and it's a way to pay less for more work. Every day there is a new process and it changes before even implemented. That's a major part of the problem!!!

No, ASTS will not be put into MBA position and there won’t be an open job to apply for. Store manager will present who they think is the best fit to regional manager and he or she will either endorsing the decision or questioning the choice. Actually, the decision has done on Tuesday.

MBA is Manager of Business Administration.

I just want to make sure I made it clear and didn’t give false hope to ASTS. ASTS will not be considered for MBA position. The only option for ASTS is to take a FT AST associate and layoff the current AST associate.

Well as a current ASTS I’m going to have to let the Dept of labor know about all these meal break violations. I stayed with this company in
Hopes of growth and if I get treated as if all my hard work was worthless, I’ll do the same. I know the effort and sweat I put into my store. No I don’t want to be a store manager, but if my job and my effort in this company can be so valueless then it should be reciprocated. If I go I’m taking EVERYBODY with me. The ASTS know all about the store, all the dirt!

Oh hold on, what protocol? To get a job it's who you are and the teachers pet. You can be called and told you're out somebody else is getting your job with no notice, previous conversation or nothing. It becomes a pattern until the bottom of the barrel falls out. It will catch up with them eventually. God don't like ugly!!!

MBA - my understanding is Mgr Business Admin. Just speculation but I have a hard time believing ASTS will automatically be promoted to mgr. I would guess it would need to be posted and follow open position protocol. I am thinking of multiple people in my store who would also be interested/qualified for this position other than the current ASTS.

Here is what I know about MBA.

MBA will oversee store budget, staffing budget, cash services, HR like hiring process and HR documents processing etc and all administrative functions. MBA will also oversee AYS functions BOPS etc. MBA is also working with store manager on capital, P&L sales plan strategy etc.

There are more but I don’t remember. I only get a quick glance at the sheet.

I don’t know if AST supervisor would bump FT AST associate out or they will simply lay-off AST supervisor and keep the FT AST associate.

Hang on, what does “MBA” stand for in this current upcoming situation? Old timer here and have always associated it with “Macy’s By Appointment” which is now known as “My Stylist”. We have enough damn acronyms in this company, now they have double meanings? Sheesh!

Well supervisor positions are dead and gone, so do the math. I was actually making sense , sorry I forgot a comma. MBA’s are future store managers in training, that’s the way it’s being presented to the current VPSM(store manager). I don’t know many AST’s that are trying to be that.

"Some managers AST, Supervisors...."

You make no sense.
What are you really trying to say?
AST Supervisors aren't managers now, they are supervisors.

What is going on with ASTS and MBA?? why is this being said? speculated??

I believe there will be changes and cuts, but how do we know this is happening to these positions?

No, it varies by store but seeing how Operation/AP, MTM’s, Visual managers are all being cut it’s going to be tough. Some managers AST, Supervisors will be able to be captains or regular FT’s if their salary isn’t too high. You’d be surprised, quite a few people fall into that category, you lose the title but keep the pay scale.