Thread regarding Macy's Inc. layoffs

So what is happening to sales supervisor. Will they be laid off

What does that mean that Backstage will be picked up by a sales manager? What about the backstage manager?

Oh and btw (I'm poster below) when I say too much money, I mean less than $13 😂😂😂

@2bic+15vNsN7y Thank you for acknowledging AST being so underpaid for what we do. Most people think we do nothing, especially my own VPSM. He always says I have to go to the selling floor because there's no work in the office. (Yes verbatim.) That's because I do everything for him without fanfare, and when there are problems, if I am able to solve it myself I do so without escalating it. I'm run ragged and no one knows it. I once asked for a raise and I was not only told no, but that I make too much money for my years in that position anyway 😂😂😂.

If anyone hears anything else about AST, please post, especially if you know about neighborhood stores. 😚

If they’re going to do it, do it quick.

It’s so hard to get through unemployment. If they do it right now, at least I can continue my claim without start over. Otherwise, it may take months before I can get unemployment because of the wait time!

The last I’ve heard is that AST Managers and AST Supervisor will be eliminated and the store will only get AST associate and they will report to Manager of Business Administration. In my region, they are adamant that AST manager or supervisor can’t go into MBA unless they have recent sales manager MTM experience. They are looking at the position as the next Store manager. MBA will also oversee both AST and AYS.

I don’t know if they will simply lay-off AST managers and supervisors or offer them the FT AST associate.

I’m sorry for all the AST who get paid the lowest in all executive pay guide but have the most knowledge, the most involve in business and the most go-to for associate and management and you are the least to be considered valuable.

I appreciate you all.

So much for the "North Star Strategy".

• and that folks, is "The Magic of Macy's ".

I’ve been hearing the oapm job will become a merchandising job. My store has both an ops manager and APM. I’m not sure that 1 person can physically do both jobs but it can work for the right person. I think every store is different.

Backstage is separate from the general store population. A sales manager staying on will pick it up as an FOB. A lead or if it has a supervisor that moves into one captain role. Which is basically like the old specialist role.

I have heard that some stores will have MTM and others OAPM , depending on SM ratings. The way everyone is being treated waiting for answers regarding their careers is a testament of poor leadership!

Has anything been said about OAPM’s?

@mfm+15vNsN7y is correct. Maybe not at ALL stores but my store for example is going to 11-8 on fridays and saturdays.

Has the been any word on Backstage Managers/Supervisors/Group managers?

what does it mean about ASTS and MBA?

If not the ASTS as the MBA then who? Sales managers?

The jewelry clerical is staying and is apart of the general headcount. Jewelry, Womens' Shoes, Big Ticket are not classified as specialized or in its own tier, not at my location anyways. It is just lumped in with the rest of the general selling population. The only FOB area that is separate from the rest of the selling floor is Beauty.
Jewelry and Big Ticket people need to realize they will be working in other area's of the store, they are not just specialized colleagues any longer.

As apart of your headcount if you keep 4 big ticket people and 3 jewelry people. You would not need all those colleagues in those area's. They would be working in RTW, Men's AYS, Women's Shoes and so on.

If you are currently in a specialized area other than beauty I would be ready to work wherever you are assigned. This is if you made the cut and are offered a new role.

I know nothing about commission at this time. BUT one would believe it would Go away in Big Ticket, Women's Shoes and Jewelry, since these colleagues are now general selling floor population.

It’s not just neighborhood stores it’s all stores and no one is safe. Your VPSM is making the decision on who gets what position after talking with regional/legal leadership.

Every store is losing positions and the best Will survive. AST will not automatically get the new MBA position etc. Don’t be fooled, this is definitely happening across the board. Look at how stores are now with everyone running around working crazy days, can’t get breaks covered etc and accept the new normal. The decisions are going into effect by the end of the month when the benefits run out.

@nxg+15vNsN7y Only in neighborhood stores. Flagship stores will remain the same but any store below that will get the merge.

Store hours are not changing where I am.

I thought AST already owns AYS. I know in HSQ this is not the case. AST operates a little differently than it does in other stores. They have an AST manager and supervisors. They are not even in the executive offices with store managers and they do not work or come to ring on the floor. Would they give scheduling back to AST or continue with SWST?

According to these posts, the supervisors/leads in Fine Jewelry aren’t going forward correct? What will happen with the Jewelry Clericals? They are needed to compete all the operational aspects of the Jewelry Complex including the heavy load of fulfillment orders, among everything else
“support-related” that they usually do.
Anyone have any facts about the jewelry structure?

I know: Supervisors and Leads are not going forward, they get put into general selling budget and are ranked among the colleague population, not with the executives.
So if you get 15 people to keep FT your leads/supervisors are apart of that group of 15 people.
Stores will be provided with captains that are basically floor coverage but can help open up or lock the building when needed. The new captain role is not necessarily your prior "Leads and Supervisors"
The former exec level colleagues will not see a pay reduction UNLESS they are over the Max range pay rate

FYI, store hours are changing to 11-8pm starting this week on Friday. 8pm closings will only be Fri & Sat.

A reorganization will need to happen to cut costs and streamline stores. It will come quicker than planned because of the pandemic. The merge with visual and merchandising as been around for about a year. It will happen, the timing is the question now, along with other changes.

Macys wasn't strong (nor malls) prior to the pandemic and that situation only advanced issues for all retailers that were in the same boat. It isn't that Macys is a big mean company, adjustments have to be made to stay competitive in the market we are in. It's easy for anyone to say 'why not do this or that' same goes for any business or retail environment. You can read any post for any retailer on here and find a want- to -be CEO. Macy*s takes a beating because of the employee culture in the stores, same as Lowes.

AP/Ops works fine in smaller environments, not so much in larger ones. Either the person is too focused in OP's (store VPM's favorite ) or AP and that doesn't truly work. Its very hard to split those responsibilities. Former Op's manager's more than likely didn't want to be bad guy catchers, and AP folks didn't want to be in operations either. It's a 'something must give situation'.

Visual/MTM's– my 2 cents, I'll split it down the middle same as above. In smaller stores it will work, large ones I believe it would be tough, real tough. Unless there are other variables that come along with the merger, such as removing certain tasks from the new position, or the like. This remains to be scene. Of course someone must hang all those red x-mas bulbs form the ceiling right?

Fine Jewelry does need it's own Leader (for lack of a better title) due to how the business is run. With all the 'binder' work you truly need someone that understands and lives in that world. That's a tough sell in today's store.

It's tough to make sense of some moves and it requires a very large scope to 'see' the very large picture. Other moves are based on financial needs and there might not be a choice as cuts must be made to reduce store expense. In the end (or to use a M phase 'at the end of the day') it truly doesn't matter to the associates in the stores as we are left to work with who and whats left to work with.

None of it is making any sense!