Thread regarding Whole Foods Market Inc. layoffs

I think one poster hit this on the head. It's not about efficiency. That would require fixing the hot mess that is the regional structure and probably going to like no more than four big regions all with the same rules and procedures that actually make sense. It would also demand an end to the shoddy construction practices we've seen and rush to open as many stores as possible with insanely optimistic projections. Has anyone noticed (there's a WFMU class on this) that WFM is positively obsessed with TJ's? That's the reason for the new 365 stores. If they can't run the company right now, and they're firing the people who actually run the stores, who is going to launch and run these 365 stores? All of this sure looks like the company is being setup for a buyout. And not at a huge premium either. I hope whoever buys it brings lots of duct tape. I will be ROTFLMAO when these overstuffed regional presidents and coordinators are given the boot and have to go to Kroger as overnight stockers. BWAHHAHAHAHA

And the funny thing is, despite all the changes and supposedly "tough business decisions" over the past several years, the shareholders ARE NOT HAPPY AT ALL! The stock has been up and down dramatically. It's been awful for shareholders. This year WFM stock is one of the WORST performers in the S&P 500. It took that honor for much of 2013 as well. Then it rebounded in 2014 and has plummeted again this year. That doesn't inspire confidence in our two genius co-CEOs nor the array of regional grand poobahs.

Team Member Happiness has not been a core value for about 2 years in the front end now. This Kronos Scheduling and Team Leader saying there is no preferences like before . Only students and people with 2 jobs. I have been in the company for 15 years with same schedule and he comes along to chance everything. I know for a fact that you are able to put preferences in Kronos he is just being a dick. Some of us like night shifts and some day. Yet he says it's his way or no way... A lot of angry people right now plus we are short of cashiers and no hiring . That means that as a cashier I have to triple my job for holidays just to find out after Jan I no longer have a job.....

I'm sure those positions are next, can't do it now they need someone to drive the turkeys around. WFM was successful for a long but the competition is about to or has caught them. If they just kept on keeping on they wouldn't last

This isn't going to lower prices from $120 to $80...if you think these layoffs are gonna help your fooling yourself...this is a primer for a buyout! What would help is getting rid of all the stupid regional coordinators...some departments have 6+ coordinators, there's no need...there should be only one coordinator and an assistant coordinator for starters, and how about not opening a 100 more stores and shelve the stupid 365 stores as well...

WFM pays better than most if not all grocery chains and maybe even any retailer. Nobody is blaming people for deserving and getting raises. Prices of everything goes up gas, corn , beef, good team members, and experienced team members. The only way WFM can afford all that is to charge the customers more than any other place and now for the same products. What we are telling and hoping customers do is shop at wholefoods and pay $120 for their groceries instead of going over there and paying $80 because we have higher paid employees, have a lot of unnecessary positions, and we like to go on team builds.

Yes! Keep blaming your fellow employees. They are asking for it, having the audicity to receive raises. And I'm sure you inarguaby desere every cent of your wage.

My bakery doesn't have a buyer, the TL or ATL. does the buying and if for some reason they both have the same day off (which isn't often) or they are a late mid and some order needs to be done early, there's 3 people that are trained how to buy. Also at my store, specialty has a TL, ATL, beer buyer, cheese buyer, wine buyer and 2 part time..5 people making at least $14 , actually 3 people making $14/hr, one I'm gonna say at least $18, and one over $23 since they've been there for at least 4 years each..ridiculous

Based this response and your other posts you are providing ample evidence that these issues all stem from poor management. How is it a TMs fault for trying to make as much money as possible in the least stressful position available to them, especially when the company has been described to TMs to be flexible in this way? Why would anybody take on the immense responsibility of stepping into an ATL position when the same wage can be earned in an exponentially less stressful / infinitely more flexible position? Like you said, a lot of these problems needed to be fixed, but leadership (including yourself in these posts) has tirelessly refused to shoulder the responsibility that it is the systems THEY have implemented and maintained that caused these problems. And now WFM's solution, yet again, is to lay the blame on its TMs, saying, "THEY MAKE TOO MUCH, THEY ARE RUINING IT," while shoving them out the door.

the meat cutters are very good meat cutters and deserve to make as much as they can. But is hard to schedule a department that is top heavy like that. Most Meat departments dont need meat cutters and if you can get one that's willing to switch stores the other stores won't want him because he makes to much. Regional doesn't really force anyone to go another store. They don't want to be atl because the pay don't change and they get more responsibilities and the hours change. So by not being able to afford more tms cause you have expensive meat cutters that you don't need it becomes wasted labor. 1 meat cutter transferring up or moving to another store allows us to bring in 2 more clerks that relieves the stress of other team members and allows better customer service. WFM has a lot of wasted or poorly allocated labor that they are trying to fix. Positions were eliminated but positions were there for people to take a step back AND not lose pay by the bridge option l! No employer would offer that!

@ Meat tl: How the f*** is someone who walked into getting laid off on Monday "playing the victim"? Members of leadership such as yourself who are seemingly unable to compute any emotion outside of steadfast loyalty to company policy are a much larger problem for WFM than overpaid back up buyers.

Granted, I would normally concede that you're right, stores doingl ike $200k/week in sales don't necessarily need backup bulk buyers ,etc., but then you said, "Some meat dept have 3 meat cutters making more than tls" - way to reveal your true motivation! How DARE those lowly grunts earn a wage comparable to you (never mind that fact that if they are your meat cutters, YOU gave them the wage they are earning). I can scarcely imagine how excited you must have been to show those "victims" the door this week. Congratulations!

Didn't some regions start to eliminate the buyer positions? I know the rm region did, they told everyone this was happening months ago. So why the shock?

Meat tl, I agree with you. There is no need for multiple meat cutters, nor is there a need for a Buyer and a Receiver in PFDS. There may be 1-2 exceptions, thinking $1MM+ stores. Multiple buyers in grocery, same thing. Frankly these layoffs seem like good business though I think our Regional/Global Leadership should be accountable as well. They got us here by rampant favoritism, the wasted labor during a 'walk' and people in positions who have no business in leadership. Fear based ECs, RPs & RVPs are the norm in my region.

-SP TL

Depending on the size of the store...yes some stores need a bulk, grocery frozen and dairy buyer...it's not just about ordering, it's about keeping backstock in order, new items, vendors etc...the 4 buyers barely had enough time in a day to finish their stuff, and now it's going to be bedlam right before the holidays, some stores can get away with just two buyers, but larger volume stores really need the 4 buyers...also why take a pay cut and work all the way back up??? The next buyer position you get might be eliminated next time...read between the lines and get out now before the machines take over completely, soon there will be nothing to work up too, and if a buyout happens there prob won't be a severance or any transition assistance...I honestly fear and feel for my former teammates left in this mess...morale is at an all time low and the good vibe have been sucked out...and permanently I fear smh

You can take a position with lower pay and WFM will cover the difference for good amount of time while you work your way up. I think that's a great opportunity and a lot better than playing the victim!

And what about stupid positions like mentors.Who dreamed up that rediculous job???

Does that mean you slash people's position who don't make that much? AND expect them to be compliant and take a lower position for less pay just because there is only 1 spot open for the 3 or 4 people.

People put in time and effort to their positions. They don't make nearly as much as a meat cutter or similar positions. Yet, they are the majority that have been "restructured"

Every single person in the company shouldn't be expected to move up if they don't want to. That's why they cap out at a certain pay. Great work and experience is much more valuable than fast tracking people into leadership.

I am moving on. it has always happened to me: When I leave a company(I left WFM a little while ago)things tend to go downhill. They lost me and I see it as a sign of hope . There is a life AFTER WFM.

Look at yourself in the mirror and claim yourself as an individual and not as a TM

does every store need a bulk buyer? A frozen buyer? A dairy buyer? A grocery buyer? A supplements buyer? A back up buyer at every buyer position? meat and seafood buyers in some regions? These positions needed to be trimmed down. Departments are all very top heavy a lot of chiefs and few Indians. Some meat dept have 3 meat cutters making more than tls and never moved up because the pay is the same and more stress and their hours would change. This all sucks for some but this needed to be done!

does every store need a bulk buyer? A frozen buyer? A dairy buyer? A grocery buyer? A supplements buyer? A back up buyer at every buyer position? meat and seafood buyers in some regions? These positions needed to be trimmed down. Departments are all very top heavy a lot of chiefs and few Indians. Some meat dept have 3 meat cutters making more than tls and never moved up because the pay is the same and more stress and their hours would change. This all sucks for some but this needed to be done!