Reposting this from a reply for important and detailed info, I hope the person who originally posted it does not mind:
I have a friend that is married to a sm and she said they are getting ready to downsize asm's. Sales will determine the amount of asm's. Some stores will lose some and some will gain some. Also dpts are combining. There will be 5-6 dpt mngr positions eliminated. 2 & 46 combine. 8 & 13/4 will combine. Jewlery, lingerie & shoes combine. All domestics and furniture will combine. Garden and seasonal will combine. Garden and seasonal has already combined in my store. Our jewlery dpt mgr went in maternity leave last month and they told her shes losing her position. When she comes back she will have to find another position. I am in a small format store in central cali.