Confirmed: spoke with a regional manager, this person said the district staff knew, and that they needed to let go anyone who wasn't going to be promoted right away, and anyone making too much money, and to promote others to asm before layoffs happen. They chose their favorites. What they didn't tell them, was that more layoffs are coming for asm's... as well as store closures, because they are selling the company to private equity group and most all jobs will be eliminated.
Bumped from another thread (@Kv9GM7f-4Rjry) for info.