Info from the SO Region meetings

I (was) a FT Customer Service Supervisor in the SO Region. I've seen alot of questions and curiosity floating around, so i'd like to share the info that I have/have heard from my store in the SO Region. Hopefully it'll help, if not, you'll have our side of what we've heard.

1) My store laid off ALL Buyers and Supervisors from every department, but did not fully eliminate all of those positions. Some, based on your store, will remain. Example, we have five front-end supervisors, but are cutting back to three. To "make it fair", they fired all of them and are allowing anyone affected by this in the region to apply or re-apply for one of the three spots. Once interviews are complete, the STL/TL will choose who fills the spots.

2) We were told that some "new" positions are being created/added and will be available for those of us affected to apply to. For example, we laid off our Floral Buyer and eliminated that position permanently, but are now adding a "Produce Supervisor" position, which we have never had, that includes the duties of a Floral Buyer. We laid off our Beer/Wine Buyer, but are creating a "Beverage Specialist" position to replace it that includes the duties of a Beer/Wine Buyer. From my understanding, all of the available positions will be revealed tomorrow (09/28) for the SO Region. Anxious to see who is left on Tuesday..

3) The actual severance pay is based on your time there. Additionally they're offering EIGHT weeks of pay at your current rate. If you're considering taking the severance package, keep in mind that you're going to suffer a LARGE (40-ish %?) tax deduction out of it, and you will also NOT be eligible for unemployment if you accept. Just a reminder.

4) This is just a small rant that personally pissed me off. In our meeting, Omar (our Regional President) drops this huge heart breaking bomb on us, then follows up with "Please maintain the same level of morale and pleasant demeanor as if nothing has happened. It's not our customers fault. We also hold trust in you to not share this info, as it is sensitive information." LOL. I think EVERYONE deserves to know that the company they're supporting, rooting for, and dedicating their lives to is no better than anywhere else at this point. And same morale?! You just fired everyone, and now you have the balls to say "act like nothing happened"?! For me, in a matter of 30 minutes, Whole Foods Market went from being a great career, to just another job.

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17 replies (most recent on top)

Omar and his cousin matar needs to go, those two are dumber than a second coat of paint.

This sounds more fair than what happened in my region. At least everyone in the positions got a chance to take the severance and the ones who didn't want to leave could go for the jobs left over. In my region they just fired people who were on corrective action.

Not sure on specific positions, as it seems that every store is axing different positions. Just keep your fingers crossed!

What about sign makers

What about Regional AC positions?

Yes, unemployment laws vary by state. If considering taking the severance package, contact your local unemployment office and find out, by in NC you are, as previous poster said, 100% eligible for unemployment if you take severance. And I think it is taxed as capitol gains, so its more like a 60% tax on your severance package.

Guys, you are absolutely 100% eligible for unemployment. When you file, you'll have to tell them about your severance package, and unemployment won't start until after the consider that to have "run out", but you're not up the creek without a paddle. Don't share information like that unless you know it's true. I've already done the research, and I know this is a fact for any NC residents at least.

On the SO Healthy Eating Educator call where they were all let go, Omar said they would be replaced by four regional positions to "make the program more efficient"...?

FOS and Clueless

Fairly certain about the unemployment statement, although it may differ by state. I've heard it mentioned a few different times now, both here and in-store.

omar is a waste of space - they should've fired him and kept all the people that actually work

Sowin1992, are you certain about not being eligible for unemployment if a taking a severance package? Or does it depend on each state and local laws?

Thank you for the info -- and insight -- it's very much appreciated

Nice try Omar

Thank you

Thank you for the useful information. Sounds like a similar situation based on what I've heard from workers in other regions. We're truly dealing with heartless scumbags. Same old story: They "manage" and collect fat paychecks, we work inconsistent schedules that we barely know in advance, are short staffed all the time, see our benefits reduced every time they come up for a bullshit "vote", our job dialogues and pay raises are always behind, we're under constant video surveillance, we see our fellow workers fired for bullshit reasons... and they have the audacity to tell us to smile through it all! It's disgusting and the gross underbelly of this company needs to be exposed to everyone.

"We also hold trust in you to not share this info" - good luck with that in 2015 - look at what we did on this site in 24 hours, there is 200 messages, things are pouring in from all sides, all levels, all geographies. A perfect information asymmetry is a thing that exists no more, it was brought down by sites like this and a mobile internet connection in every pocket. Keep posting, keep sharing, stay strong.

Thank you for posting this, it's very useful for us who have a somewhat limited insights into what is going on (e.g., parents, spouses, etc.)

Thread regarding Whole Foods Market Inc. layoffs

Info from the SO Region meetings

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