Thread regarding Whole Foods Market Inc. layoffs

That's harsh

It sounds like it's from a TM but everything said is on target, especially comments from TMs below. I spent a lot of money shopping at WF while working there because I loved their products, but also because I wanted to believe in them and support them. I didn't go back after maternity leave because I saw the changes before the layoffs. I saw some awful things while working there and it was very disappointing. I did have regulars who asked specifically for me every week and got to know personally...that was the best and getting to share my passions and knowledge. I learned a lot about number crunching too compared to other health food stores that I worked for that were not nearly obsessed with numbers, meetings, or profits. Let's just say that if it had been a good experience I would have returned, but it really wasn't. The good did not outweigh the bad. I suppose I am thankful because being at home has helped me prioritize my life and heal from the years of bitterness, stress, and negativity that surrounded me during those WF days. I am greatly saddened by those I knew personally to be smart, hard workers and those who had families to support. I don't think I could shop at WF again...it's just not right

It sounds like it's from a TM but everything said is on target, especially comments from TMs below. I spent a lot of money shopping at WF while working there because I loved their products, but also because I wanted to believe in them and support them. I didn't go back after maternity leave because I saw the changes before the layoffs. I saw some awful things while working there and it was very disappointing. I did have regulars who asked specifically for me every week and got to know personally...that was the best and getting to share my passions and knowledge. I learned a lot about number crunching too compared to other health food stores that I worked for that were not nearly obsessed with numbers, meetings, or profits. Let's just say that if it had been a good experience I would have returned, but it really wasn't. The good did not outweigh the bad. I suppose I am thankful because being at home has helped me prioritize my life and heal from the years of bitterness, stress, and negativity that surrounded me during those WF days. I am greatly saddened by those I knew personally to be smart, hard workers and those who had families to support. I don't think I could shop at WF again...it's just not right

Anonymous166226 is probably John Mackey. He's been notortious in the past for commenting on forums and threads to defend coporate decisions, maybe not though. Anyone who is defending the decision is probably either him or one of their corporate goons. But honestly, 11 per hour isn't enough, even with discount, to encourage TMs. I watched prices rise radically over the three years I was there and it was obvious that it was just in the name driving up the dollar amounts of sales. I saw every team member disgruntled and unhappy. The reality is that WF has stores that are mostly in cities where it is expensive to live if that is your wage. A lot of these TMs are supporting families on that wage; some have more than one child. You can't shop there for that. None of the TMs I work with could afford it. Take into account all the other bills you have to pay. A lot of us are educated and paying student loans. One have masters degrees. Even if you're a single person like I was at the time, it's near impossible to get by with that kind of money. If you live in or near a city, most of your first of the month's paycheck goes to rent. And not only do the higher ups mistreat the employees, but a lot of the customers do too. Most of us started there because we believed in the ideal that the company set forth, but it never follows through. Most of the TMs are met with disappointment.

You've really messed up the lives of thousands of people

I can agree 100% with your logic. I'm a cashier and have met so many wonderful, insightful, and fun people working at WFM. Not just the customers who shop there, but the team members too. When I go to Publix or Walmart I can't make eye contact with an employee let alone have an intelligent conversation with them. But these lay offs are only going to be more dramatic and devastating to those affected. It's a shame what's happening to this company and I sincerely hope they figure things out.

Thank you so much for this. Sadly, the continued abuse of employees by this corporation has gone on for far too long. I think at this point we can be honest and say it's over.

This is much appreciated. Coming from a cashier, it's hard to see a customer like you go. But I get it. I wouldn't shop at wfm anymore either. It's sad that they're turned into a money hungry corporation. It should be interesting to see the level of knowledge and customer service deteriorate though.

You "were" a customer. So you're not shopping there anymore? I certainly hope others don't think like you, otherwise we'll ALL be out of a job. I don't know why anyone is thanking this person. And you sensed this was coming how? I'm calling BS as well.

I'm afraid John and Walter made the wrong cuts from the wrong areas. I still have my job but i am going to be holding back tears as i see so many "work family "members leaving. Our customers don't just shop our stores for product, they shop us for our knowledge (which has diminished over the years) , our friendship (relationships)that we have built with our customers. I witnessed the changes in 2008 and every year it's gotten a little bit worse.

We just cut our marketing (which is our only outreach to potential customers as we only do lame radio commercials occasionally and to the wrong demographics~yes we did a few commercials briefly this year) we just cut our specialists ~our connection to product knowledge (years ago you really had to know product to get this job ).

Hey corporate (because you're no longer regional leadership) be prepared to stock your own shelves,deal with demanding customers, work odd shifts, and be ready for therapy because this is going to be very grueling once you're down so many valuable team members. Better start studying now because you need to know your products to sell them

Thanks man. I really appreciate this.

You clearly don't know or understand the core values.

V

The thing that sucks about working at Whole Foods now is feigning a tolerance of their core value that they respect their employees and put the care of their suppliers/employees over the bottom line. In order to keep their stocks from plummeting and to satisfy their investors, they ruined lives by nixing long-term employees who had done nothing wrong in order to restructure and "stay competitive." It wouldn't matter so much if they didn't parade around that their store is all about compassion that isn't present in other grocery stores/retails, but after these layoffs, I doubt much of the money I dump into Whole Foods goes anywhere except the pockets of corporate.

Calling BULLSHIT. nice try TM.

Hey "customer", did you know mist if the TMs believe so much in WFM that they don't even shoo there? They start out at 11per and even with a 20% discount, still don't care enough about the products to shop at there own stores..m funny, that probably would have saved this from happening too, oh well, I'm sure another company will swoop in and take care of these little gems.

Thank you.

Such a bummer, thank you for writing, thank you for caring. As a cashier, you sound like the kind of person I wish would keep coming through my lines. But we both deserve better and it's high time this corporation realized that.

On the otherhand, I'm sure store leadership will have a nice fat gift card waiting for you at customer service... That's their answer to everything (and now look at the mess we're in).

I was lucky enough to keep my job, but it is no longer a place I really want to be and I've been with it for 7 years. I've been a TL, ATL, and buyer who now only works part time which is why my job was saved..I worked there because like you I believed what it stood for but that is currently, and has been for awhile a past tense scenario. I personally spend about 400$ a month, and I'm sure many other TMs do as well, but no longer. I simply do not feel the "core values" mean a thing anymore. Thank you to the customers like yourself who believed like I did that WFM was different, better for us and for the world. We may still do great things for the community but apparently not for our TMs, shame on us. We at the store levels appreciate you, we know you, and we loved to see you every week I just wish that was still enough for those above us. Thanks for some great years!

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for standing up for the dedicated employees who have worked so hard and poured so much passion into a company that has now turned around and screwed us. We all thought the same as you-that WFM was different. And though we could all feel how corporate the company was becoming over the last several years, nobody wanted to believe it. This is the move that shocked us all, though it shouldn't have. I'm disappointed in WFM as my employer. They have overspent on RP and RVP salaries and bonuses for several years now, mimicking Wall Street and cultivating ignorant and unfeeling fat cats. I'm ashamed that I allowed myself to believe in this company.

Thank you

Thank you for your support. I can understand why some people are angry but I think it was handled as good as a layoff can be. We had a meeting with out STL in which our options were explained to us. I'm pretty stoked that I was offered 8 weeks pay, plus 2 weeks for every year I have, and my PTO payout. I have 22 weeks of pay coming to me and I can claim unemployment until I figure out what to do. Who knows, I may even come back in 6 months after a nice vacation. You tell me what other grocery store would offer that to people who had their jobs eliminated. It a cr@ppy situation but I can understand why.

I don't even work for the storm, pretty eye-opening post. Here we have a customer who is admitting to spending $200 at Kroger for every $100 spent at Whoke Foods. How can you blame the company for trying to reverse that? If cutting a few jobs means business will do better it makes sense to me. Just a non-emotional perspective for you.

We loved you too, customers. The veil has been lifted for us both. Thank you for the positive energy, the (sometimes factual) knowledge, the questions both great and stupid, and for the time spent in our stores. The people on the front line will miss you, the guys making these calls might miss your dollars.

Thank you.As an employee of whole foods for over 5 years,it's nice to hear that someone appreciates us!

I appreciate your concern and kindness, as well as your patronage, even though money is tight. A couple of the most essential elements to our service has been the love of and excitement for what we did when we came to work every day, and the love and appreciation for our customers. Our guests have been like family to us as well, and we've grown to know and appreciate those regular, friendly faces. This is a very sad and shocking time for everyone.

This letter from a customer should be sent by every customer to corporate and posted on all news outlets for other customers and WF employees to see.

Thank you for letting us serve you and your family. Whole Foods as you know it changing. :(