Thread regarding Sears layoffs

@1xrx - A friend on mine was an ASM that wanted to apply for the SM position that opened up in their store. They were told that Sears does not promote from within the same store, however, they called HQ to confirm that policy. HQ told them that Sears had no such policy in place and that anyone who was interested in the position was encouraged to apply. My friend applied and was promoted to the position of SM. This is not something new nor due to the current state of affairs with Sears; this took place over ten years ago. So tell your zone supervisors there is a chance!

In our Sears we donot even have one salaried manager since our store manager quit on Friday to go to another retailer. We now have two zone supervisors and two leads who are expected to do the same jobs and responsibilities as a store manager at much less pay I would expect.

How long it will take to get a new store manager is any one's guess.

Both zone supervisors have applied for the position although Sears usually does not promote from within the same store.

Will be interesting to see what happens next.

That means they broke the rules and didn't go through the proper channels first. There are requirements such as an additional higher level background check, a certain pay grade, training to be completed, and documents to be signed. An SGM can't just hand out keys but they can authorize hourly key carriers when they go through the proper channels. Stores under $10 mil in sales only have the SGM as salaried. What do you think they've all been doing?

Edie has lost most of his money. You do not want to emulate eddie any more

@guc- if those rules changed, someone should tell the market leaders. Ours just made our new store manager take keys away from anyone not "authorized" to have them. Now we only have 2 keyholders in our store. We had 4 and that was already tough.

Definitely not following rules. I'm not supposed to have a key for the cash office but I do. Close by myself all the time too.

Those rules changed a while ago. Your info is outdated.

I know for fact it was said that apparently a store manager cant be alone at closing. One time a lead left early and I was asked to stay to full closing which I was ok with it.

Sears puts it on the public they follow their rules, but they dont follow them anymore. My store is getting to the bone we only got 3 leads (one I heard is on the verge of getting fired) one is one of the good ones does her job, the other one plays favorites and using her charm to not put herself to close. So basically 2 put themselfs to close 3 and 3 days a week and the other one just one day (we use to have 5 leads but 2 got fired). The only thing we have next to close is the managers and we pretty much know which one is going bye bye. As soon as they get rid of her in my store its going to be come hell all over its just going to become a mess.

Not sure how this became it's own post, as I posted it only as a comment elsewhere. My point was just that these "rules" are another indicator of how completely out-of-touch our leaders (meaning field and corporate management, basically all those who don't work in the actual stores) are with the reality of what's going on with the company on a day-to-day basis and of what all these cuts are really accomplishing (or failing to accomplish). They continue to ask us for the same things regardless of all these changes. Taking conference calls while the store is open and you're the only manager. Walking around with that SFL sheet when there aren't even enough associates to cover the floor. Having associates come in for meetings before the store opens, thereby taking a chunk out of the hours they can work while we are open. Hitting all these metrics that don't even remotely line up with what's reasonable for the amount of sales we're actually pulling in. Are they just trying to justify their own jobs or do they really think what they're doing is going to make a difference? Hard to tell...

If you can't abide to the rules:

1) Quit & find a new job

2) Start your own business to follow thru on #1

3) Make your own rules to further your objectives of #1 / # 2

4) Initiate rule making process for your new employees in order to make money

5) Educate yourself in finance to emulate Fast Eddie

6) Buy & sell companies for the real estate

7) Further enhance your riches

8) Buy & sell Fast Eddie

And on, and on, and on,

Wow, I did not know that a salaried manager needed to be in the building at all times. We have one salaried manager--the store manager. The three others in management are hourly, and we have two non-lead employees that are key carriers that open, close and work the cash cage.

I'm betting this rule is 100% broken across the company. It might have worked in 1997 when there were six or so salaried managers and the stores were hopping, but not now with all the cost cutting. Many stores former ASMs are now hourly leads.

I predict they will do next (or soon) will be to whittle down store staff to one store manager for two stores, an assistant manager for all departments (hardlines, softlines, backroom/ops) and more regular employees as key carriers to fill the void. I don't have confirmed sources or anything, this is speculation based on their trends of downsizing.