I was laid off last year, and have kept in touch with some people who were also laid off, quit, or were fired for awful reasons. In almost every single case, I see them moving on to something so much better. Has this been the case for anyone else?
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Had about 4 different jobs since I left a year ago. Finally got an office 9-5 job with same pay I had as an atl. It's out there guys just gotta go and get it.
And the respect from not working in a grocery store anymore is priceless.
I was a PBS in the NA region. I watched the Admin TL position get eliminated. She was offered severance or the option to matriculate to another position. She downsized with a significant decrease in pay to Accounting Specialist. Then the Accounting Specialist position was eliminated and she got demoted again to the cashup person for even less money. Later, cashup was downsized from Full Time to PT20. I watched a similar pattern happen with several other positions so when Workday came on board, I saw the writing on the wall for the PBS position. I knew it was only a matter of time. Many other PBSs also saw the writing on the wall and started jumping ship before the position was eliminated. I made the decision a year before it happened not to quit, but to ride out the wave until the position was eliminated and then take the severance. When word came about the "restructuring" of the PBS and Marketing TL positions I stuck to my original plan, took the severance, and left. I considered backing out of this plan because of fear that I wouldn't find something else, but I am SO glad I didn't let fear keep me there! I found a much better job. I now work as an HR Generalist in the corporate office of a small company. It's a better title, closer to home, the pay is higher, and I get a lot more respect. I can actually enjoy my holidays now. Monday holidays (which most holidays in this country are observed on a Monday) were non-existent in the PBS role because of payroll, but they are an actual thing in this company. I've been here for a year now and I'm still so grateful that I left WFM. The best part is that my severance pay is still sitting in the bank which I plan to use toward a downpayment on a house at some point.
I feel bad for those who chose to stay only to continue to have the stress that their new position will also be eliminated or that their hours will be cut. Especially because I heard they aren't giving out severance packages anymore. I definitely got out at the right time.
If you're miserable at WFM, get out. There are better opportunities out there. I promise.
I had no idea about this website until after I was fired a month ago. I spent a few weeks visiting with family and enjoying my unused PTO, and got a job at costco! $13/hr to start, and if I'm good I'll get benefits within a few months. Was making $14.50 at whole foods but it took four years to get there.
I was offered severance but chose to stay. Now I'm hearing about some sketchy 3 year plan where I will report to a new and totally unrelated department. I had an amazing career prior to coming to WFM and I can honestly say, this company is inept. My alcohol consumption has gone up exponentially over the last decade. If offered severance again, I won't hesitate. Don't know what the future holds for WFM, but can't see myself here much longer. Regional and Global interaction is a joke and the lack of correspondence has me completely baffled. It's like, nobody knows what to do so they just do nothing. Where I was getting a dozen or so emails from my region a week, now I get a few. Events and promotions have been slashed. It's not the same.
After 10+ years I accepted the severance package last Sept. Having a nice and relaxing holiday season, a first in over 10 years, spent with family I accepted a great job offer. The work I do is appreciated and I'm making over $10,000 more a year with steady regular hours and holidays and weekends off. Make no mistake, it feels great, and I won't spend a cent of it at WFM.
I am now back on the career track I had been pursuing prior to the bout of temporary insanity I had that led me to this dump. Of course there were signs that not all was well in the Bobbsey Twins' natural/organic Disneyland. (They're obsessed with Walt Disney, btw, according to someone I know who went to a leadership retreat where that was one of the big topics.) Now I'm back on my former career track, working at a competitor as I wrap up my remaining certification requirements, and realizing that real, successful grocery stores actually are disciplined operations with a deep back bench of talent that they've nurtured very carefully. Operations are standardized and highly efficient. Peripherals like scales, PCs and printers are carefully set up and monitored. There would never be the likes of a snap decision to bring in a vendor like Bizerba out of the blue with different standards in every region, haphazard support and constant maintenance calls. Anyway I spoke with a former co-worker about 6 months ago and neither of us had ever seen a hot mess of a dumpster fire like we had experienced at this hellhole. I'm still shocked now at how organized other businesses are because there's this part of me that expects things to be as bad as the Bobbsey Twins' natural/organic minefield of cow patties. NOTHING will ever compare. I am immensely happier now.
I thought Whole Foods was the realization of MY dream job, an awesome place to work with a future that couldn't be any brighter. Less than 1 year later, I went back to my old job for a lot more money than I was making before (and 30% more than at WFM). WFM did NOTHING to boost my career, and I look back at this as a moderate-sized setback in my career path. I was cleaning out a bunch of my old stuff over the weekend, saw some stupid IRMA and Bizerba things, and glad I don't have to waste any time working with this garbage.
I spent over 10 years in The Whole(SW). I have moved on to a state job. I work hours now that let me have dinner with my family every night and no holidays. It was a small pay cut, but I will work my way back up soon enough. It is nice to be able to attend my kids' school functions and not absolutely dread holidays. This last Christmas was the best I have had in years!
After 7 years with the company, my best move was to leave. Making more money, I finally have holidays off and don't have to deal with a bossy TL breathing fire down my back. lol. Thankful to the Old Wholefoods but so glad I moved on. It's sad to see when I do visit to shop sometimes the vibe is so dead, good thing I can get some of the same products at other stores.
i moved on to something better after 10+ years at wfm...much happier
You treat people like they are indispensable and they will lose their passion. This is what has happened. It is the same in my store. All of the good people have gone and what remains are a dead eyed group that could just as easily be at wal mart. It is the same attitude now from everyone and rightfully so. Stop the changes and start appreciating your best employees publicly and loudly or they will be gone in no time. Even that might not work as I believe everyone competent is smart enough to know WFM is yesterday's news and is now simply becoming a punch line. It is sad to see for those of us that have been with the company back when it was something that was decent.
The best and the brightest have left the building. It's so sad. I walk around our store not recognizing most of the Team Members.
Two friends that left right after the september layoffs are graphic artists at two different companies. Both love what they're doing now, here I am thinking why do I still care to show up anymore. Not to be negative but it's become so bad at my store.
Working for a competitor being paid more and stressing way less. Whole foods is a joke in comparison to how a grocer should organize and run as a buisness. Great to get up and be excited to go to work.
Got severance and found another job, gets paid more and great opportunities to move up. Thanks for the so many years of training at Wholefoods!
Just got through ducking my stl great to work and f--- at the same time while getting paid 😅😅
I looked a long time to find something utilizing my skills that wasn't part of the retail industry. My patience paid off. I've been working with the government for 6 months now. Every weekend off and great benefits.