Thread regarding Whole Foods Market Inc. layoffs

Topsecretvp is a plant. This is soooo not happening.

Alive, yes there have been actual layoffs during this process.!!! Healthy eating specialists, demo specialists do not have jobs nor can they get another. They are forced to take severance. They told them there are no options for them. My store didnt even offer severance because they started this process with the demo and HSH person a month ago. That is a lay off.

Alive - are you serious?? The ENTIRE marketing departments in the FL region have been let go. And some where given the news and walked to the door. Like marketing never did anything to help the stores out. Yes the Marketing TL can choose to reapply for a Metro marketing position and risk it. But what about HSH or concierge? They have no choices. And in other regions all of the buyers have to reapply for whatever few jobs they restructure into. There aren't any open positions in stores right now and if there are one of two, everyone is going to be fighting over them. This is a layoff. Don't try to whitewash it. Whole Foods created this disaster by continuing to build stores and not freezing hiring like they did in 2008 when the recession hit. At least then regional took a pay freeze. Now they're sitting like kings while the stores team members are running scared like rats. I put years into this company believing the crap they told me. Shame on me I guess for thinking they'd actually give me some notice before they shipped me out.

Folks,

Unless I misunderstood, this is not a "layoff" no one has lost a job. We were given the opportunity to reapply for a restructured position. I have been laid off before and it did not look like this!

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"hmm--my severance was not 2 wks for every 2000 hours worked, more like one week. (south region). Also, in the south region, if we take the severance, we agree not to reapply at WFM for six months (not a year). So maybe it's different from region to region. Anonymous162673" Please double-check your packet. In the South you should get 2 weeks for every 2000 hours, plus an additional 8 weeks of pay for agreeing not to apply for 6 months. Those numbers will be listed separately, I believe. If I'm incorrect, I'm sorry, just want to make sure that we're giving our fellow TMs in need the correct info as much as possible.

-Thank you, 162675--I just rechecked, and the severance calculation on my sheet is for one week for every 2000 hours. I wonder if it's different for different states? If I decide to take the severance, I will definitely inquire about this.

LOL I love that we get extra money for agreeing not to apply for 6 months... Like any of us would ever want to work for whole foods again after all this. LOL!

"hmm--my severance was not 2 wks for every 2000 hours worked, more like one week. (south region). Also, in the south region, if we take the severance, we agree not to reapply at WFM for six months (not a year). So maybe it's different from region to region.

Anonymous162673"

Please double-check your packet. In the South you should get 2 weeks for every 2000 hours, plus an additional 8 weeks of pay for agreeing not to apply for 6 months. Those numbers will be listed separately, I believe. If I'm incorrect, I'm sorry, just want to make sure that we're giving our fellow TMs in need the correct info as much as possible.

hmm--my severance was not 2 wks for every 2000 hours worked, more like one week. (south region). Also, in the south region, if we take the severance, we agree not to reapply at WFM for six months (not a year). So maybe it's different from region to region.

"Imagine that, from WFM who's specialty is PR, ha!" Really? Hope you have your job!

Anonymous162660"

For now...but who knows for how long if our PR blunders continue in the current avalanche.

LOL I couldn't help it after someone mentioned that their post looked like SPAM.

"Waiting for TOPSECRETVP to mention the Nigerian Princess in need of help and how to wire money to her."

This is pretty funny:-)

Waiting for TOPSECRETVP to mention the Nigerian Princess in need of help and how to wire money to her.

"Imagine that, from WFM who's specialty is PR, ha!" Really?

Hope you have your job!

"this is true no part timers were asked to attend our store meeting this Monday in my region

Anonymous162655"

This is not the case for the other regions that have already had these meetings, and I certainly hope not the case for your region. The message has apparently been delivered region to region in a poorly coordinated manner. Imagine that, from WFM who's specialty is PR, ha! The reduced positions were mentioned below. There are still FT positions, there will just be fewer of them. I'm not trying to sugarcoat, or diminish. This is truly a horrible time for our TMs and I can't believe after all this time we're living through this.

Once you sign the package you can not work for WFM for 1 year

So if a new store opens in the coming months you are not allowed to apply

this is true no part timers were asked to attend our store meeting this Monday in my region

"so that's why they called emergency team meetings at every store in my region this Monday that's mandatory

Anonymous162652"

Yes. I think the details vary slightly region to region, but buyer, supervisor, marketing, demo, artist, trainer, some ASTL positions and maybe some that I'm missing are being restructured and reduced. To keep it fair, most of those mentioned are effectively without a position until re-interviewing for the restructured positions or a lesser position, if those positions are available. Severance packages are being offered to the tune of 2 weeks for every 2000 hours worked. An additional 8 weeks of pay is possible for those willing to sign an agreement to not apply with WFM for 6 months. There are a few other options to these packages, see some of the below posts for details.

I appreciate your need to make a point, but no need to yell at us in all caps please, and no need to make your posts look like spam emails. People are hurting, and making unfounded posts about ALL Tms will do more harm than good at such a sensitive time.

so that's why they called emergency team meetings at every store in my region this Monday that's mandatory

THIS IS TRUE!!!! I'M GIVING YOU INFO THAT YOU WILL SEE HAPPEN THIS MONDAY AND THE REASON BEHIND IT!

ONCE THE FULL TIME TEAM MEMBERS ARE CUT WFM WILL SAVE MILLIONS!

sheesh--if you're going to do sensational journalism, you might at least do your homework. 1. layoffs started Friday, if not before 2. not all levels--ft cashiers, stockers, etc, not affected 3. 'ALL' positions not being 'replaced with pt'ers with not benefits.'

there is a story here, but please get it right.

Let's keep this site legit for the TMs seeking support, please.