Thousands of us service providers were let go today! Our severance? Lifetime free WW membership. Big woop.
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I have been a WW Guide for a little over 3 years, and I am disgusted as to how this was handled. An email about a mandatory phone call which turned out to be a very short termination phone call. My TM read a script, muted us all, and ended it. That's that. This is your last day. Thank you for your service, but we have to cut costs. You will have free membership for life. Then a follow up email with instructions on how to send equipment back. Oh, and you can't discuss this with anyone. No explanation to members as to why we aren't there anymore. No option of furlough, but we could reapply in the future if any positions open. We are being swept under the rug. Workshops are business as usual, like nothing happened. It hurts. I love the program. I wanted to give back. I lost almost 80 pounds on WW. Everyone is upset, those who were laid off and those who had the "privilege" of staying. Horrible management. We need transparency. The public has a right to know.
@5md the best way to get to the media is to tweet to the individual reporters - be it in newspapers, new media, tv, radio, etc. also, probably best way to go about it is to go local where the headquarters are (nyc) - and find abc/nbc,cbs and fox local channel media folks and just tweet to them - something like "hey @journalisttwittername - many have been brutally laid off by WW on a 3 minute zoom call - there is no media coverage - you can see employees comments on this at thelayoff.com/t/14X2R6vq" or something like that...
I had been with WW 8-1/2 years as a guide. On Wednesday, May 13, I got an email from StudioPeopleTeam – Attendance Required. The instruction was to "join your territory manager for an important business update ...." on Thursday, May 14, with a telephone number to call (wrong # in the email). I actually had to call in to hear I was terminated. Having only been working for 2 meetings a week, at first I was okay with it, assuming most Zoom Support guides were being let go. But, then I learned that was not the case. I have no idea who determined whom would be let go and on what basis. To my surprise, I was still able to log into my WW mail the next day and saw an email from my TM asking for Zoom Support help for a neighboring territory!!! Terrible, terrible way to let people go.
I've worked for WW for almost 21 years. Loved my job and enjoyed so much helping members achieve their goals. As an overweight woman most of my adult life, I lost over 55 pounds with WW when it was a caring organization started by Jean Nidetch in her livingroom. I met her in NYC back in the 1970s when she spoke to me about joining the organization. From 1999, I worked for low minimum wages being an LC and Guide. It was not for the pay, but for the job, the wonderful coworkers who became my friends and the logic of the program I believed in.
Rather than hearing from the CEO first in at least a video informing us of what was to happen, we all know how we got terminated quickly and without any care for our psyche going forward. This would never have happened under Jean or Florine.
Most of our coworkers are devastated. The hurt and grief this has caused is deplorable. While we all understand this is business, and business runs into hard times, empathy for those who serve you should come first before termination. Nobody from WW has reached out to any of us who have been laid off. Just goodbye and thanks for your service! Here's a free membership.
Yes, we could definitely use a Support Group!
Bless you all for your years of service! Try to be positive. Better times ahead, and I always believe things happen for a reason, have faith and please take care of yourselves!
I was one of those guides that was laid off after 13 years of service. They said we were getting paid until the end of the month and free WW membership for life.
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Ww-International,-Inc.-%28weight-Watchers%29/reviews
Fired from WW/Weight Watchers on 5/14/20, come join our Former WW FB group for support to cope with the 4 min Zoom call of mass firing.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2744225169152180/
- My first day working at what was then Weight Watchers was about three years to the day before the mass firing call. Facebook memories was sure to remind me.
Thaf
was one of my happiest days. I had lost over 100 pounds on the program, and it truly helped turn my life around. I was 45 and walking with a cane because of my weight, with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, not to mention pre diabetic.
With Weight Watchers, I was able to create a new way of life, and helping to pay it forward was a dream come true.
It was not about money, I am on disability and can not earn much. I have some health issues that cannot be changed by lifestyle alterations. Being healthy enough to do this was pretty amazing at that time!
Over the past three years, I know I was able to change other’s lives, like my coach had done for me.
It was truly the most rewarding thing I have ever done! I knew to try pursuing coaching I could lose my Medicare, which I greatly need. Then, the chat coach opportunity arose, and this was perfect! I could work a minimum of a few hours a week, and be able to do more with members.
I was so happy when I got the chat coach job, I started to cry, in the good way!
Over the three years I worked in studios, many at Works, held App Academy and was a digital tools expert followed by chat coach.
I learned I could work more if I submit my medical bills to Social Security. I felt I could inquire about coaching. I was at my goal weight, and off immune system suppressants for the first time since I had been at WW. So feeling pretty good.
Then in February one of my best friends died suddenly In a car accident, I was so heartbroken. The only time I remember getting up and dressed nicely was to go to my “At Work” workshops at NYC companies and NYC social service locations.
Focusing on our members instead of my grief was therapeutic.
I will never forget the next month, where we got an email from our client contact that they were cancelling the workshop due to an abundance of caution due to Covid19.
The week prior would be my last workshops ever, I could not have fathomed that then.
In the following weeks my life was inundated with more grief through Covid19 illness and death.
April 26 A family member passed away, I felt incredibly sad for not being able to go see them.
What I held on to was my chat coaching. I spoke to front line workers late at night. A doctor messaged me! After saving lives and losing lives all day she felt like a failure for reaching for potato chips and ice cream. When people like this actually thanked me for being there, it was stupendous, to say the least.
During this uncertain time, following my program and keeping active was also a lifesaver.
Then the phone call. Those being fired were on mute on an audio only Zoom call. We were read a script, and abruptly disconnected.
I loved getting to be a part of member’s lives and share their joy. I’ve seen people turn their health and life around as I did. It is really beautiful to be a part of that, and to know you actually played a part in that.
It is with tears and great sadness I say goodbye to this positive time in my life. My heart is shattered, perhaps more so by the way corporate handled this in an exceptionally painful way.
I know I did good things at this company, and impacted the lives of others.
I cried for about 24 hours because a company that I respected and valued, devoted my life to, felt I and countless others deserved to be permanently fired with a cold mass script!
What was that? This is supposedly a Wellness Company. Wellness is both mental and physical, and this was abject callous cruelty.
Asking us to keep the “conversation” confidential? How is something a conversation when it is a script that you are not able to reply to, due to being muted?
Please see this company for what it really is. It is not what it was initially intended to be. It has as much heart and soul as QVC now.
Barlowpetty@gmail.com
I did reach out to Steve Greenhouse via Facebook, but made clear that don't want to ruffle too many feathers till after 29th.
I think many of us would love to talk to media but are afraid of the 2 weeks promised and some people are owed vacation pay. They did not even allow us to go into the centers/studios to retrieve any personal belongings. They sent a message to mail keys. I dont know the TM home address? And I did not receive a paid envelope. I do not know how some were chosen to stay but the TM in the neighboring territory was fired. The do not want to go back to meetings. Who will be there to work. Are they going to waste money to re train all new people?
I was fired on a zoom call by my WW TM in what appeared to be scripted and non feeling on May 14. My former experience with Human Resources tells me this was unfair and unprofessional. They then go on to promote how caring they are. Oprah and Mindy have destroyed value in the WW community and shown us they had no care how long someone with the company and how much time some put into it. They keep coaches who were disrespectful while letting go valuable employees. SOme of us made friends with ones that stayed, yet they aren't allowed to talk to us?
I was an employee for 20 years split over several times. I would not have been surprised to lose my job as a Guide because I was just a sub now, but I was surprised to lose my job as a chat coach because I had good metrics and helped them out in busy times when I was needed. I feel the way this was handled was insensitive, unprofessional, cowardly and disrespectful. We were not even told how they decided who to fire, but we know from finding out some of the people they kept vs. who they fired that it doesn't make any sense from a business prospective. They fired some of their very best employees while keeping less-experienced people, yet there is no pay differential (they don't pay more for experience). Truly terrible management!
As far as press, I’d contact Steven Greenhouse on Twitter. His twitter name is @greenhousenyt. He’s a labor reporter and a champion for US workers especially during pandemic. He also is the New York Times reporter who called out Weight Watchers in the NYT seven years ago for not paying employees min wage. The article he wrote 7 years ago has quotes that WW still uses today To avoid lying employees. Love the one that the receptionists / guides ‘pay is complicated and we are reviewing it.’ Same c-ap for 7 years and we still get paid barely min wage. Mindy needs to be called out and Oprah too. They feel they are untouchable. For supposed champions of women, to FIRE 4000 dedicated long term mostly women of a certain age bracket during a pandemic in a 3 min phone call is disgusting. Then for Mindy to prance on TV showing off her mansion the same day showing how she’s sheltering in place. If she needs to work she needs to go back to dealing with commodities and clothes as she definitely has no idea how to deal with employees or with members. She’s absolutely clueless as evidenced by the many god awful decisions she’s made since she’s taken over WW most of which have failed. She brings in and hires Oprahs former employees and spokes people and pays them millions of dollars when the dedicated employee of 30 years who was just let go knows more about the business than all of them combined. Doesn’t she have to answer to people? She needs to go before it’s too late. They couldn’t have furloughed employees? No they FIRED them. Oh and after every bad decision Mindy makes, some unfeeling gets let go as nothing is ever her fault. She doesn’t need e money so please let someone run WW who actually gives a c-ap.
I'm a reporter at The Huffington Post and am looking to talk to former WW employees who were let go last week. You can email me at emily.peck@huffpost.com
Want press ? How about Ronan Farrow at New Yorker magazine ?
I wonder how to get this in the newspapers. I have left messages with two major papers and nothing ! Does anyone have recommendations? This needs to get into the press!
In my 30+ year career in technology, leadership and HR, I have never seen such a poorly executed downsizing as this. I was not laid off but others who I worked closely with and admired greatly were. WW should be ashamed, deeply ashamed! What kind of HR/people leadership would condone or even go along with this type of procedure? The executive leadership of this company is a complete joke. Mindy Grossman is a phony (just like her pal Oprah). They tell us all the time "how valuable we are", "how WW would not exist without us" and other empty platitudes. Yet, they pay below minimum wage and do nothing to show their appreciation to the employees who matter most. Leadership also talks about how everything they do is for the members. Really?!? Then why did you lay off personal coaches and NOT even tell their clients or give the personal coaches a way to let their clients know? Did it ever occur to these over-privileged, out of touch executives that our members form close relationships with their coaches and guides? That THEY are the reason the members stay with WW. And this is how you treat the customer? Let's see what they do when the cancellations start flooding in! I am honestly ashamed of this company right now. Instead of firing all these people, a better solution would be to furlough staff. Everyone understands that workshops may need to be closed or consolidated during this time. When we don't work, we don't get paid so they are not out any money. When the economy improves and we have solutions to the pandemic, these fine people can come back to work. Why didn't they do that? I can't wait to see what this pathetic excuse for leadership does next. My strong recommendation is to get this story to the NY Times and Wall Street Journal. Hold them accountable for their actions!
This company is f—ing sh– .... “you get a car and you get a car and you ... you get fired “ Mindy and Oprah you ruined this company ! #bettertogether ??? We were members first, your front line employees ! We were the ones that kept the members coming back! Shame on you for doing us dirty like this ! Guide and 24/7 chat coach for 6 years and fired with a 3 min mass conference call!
I think WW should have notified its employees there would be cuts, offered the severance package and see who was willing to leave. Could have saved a lot of heartache.
Mostly everyone I know who worked for WW did it as a second job- let’s face it the pay was below minimum wage. Many of the guides were retired from their life’s work. I myself only filled in as a sub and had surgery in January and have not worked a meeting since then. I haven’t had a cent of pay from WW in months and thought it was hysterical that I was terminated on a zoom call that I couldn’t even get into- what a joke the company has become in the last 2 years. There was no reason to lay me off whatsoever - they have spent no money on me and the only reason I even kept subbing was to receive the employee discount on products which I haven’t had access to since the lockdown. The company recruits you and with the cliques you never get your own meeting to work- no one tells you this when you waste time orienting. You’re supposed to put out an email to your territory group advertising yourself as a sub. That and when you do sub for someone you’re supposed to bring your own money to give to people for change if they pay in cash. Very archaic procedures for a company supposedly on the cutting edge. They did me a favor. If they ever do get studio meetings up and running who do they think will work there? People were sick of some of the new policies before the pandemic. We’ll see what happens now. Maybe Mindy will get canned on a zoom call.
Our senior leadership has reviewed WW organizational structure in light of COVID-19s impact on our business. As a company, we need to ensure that we have the right structure in place to drive future success and meet our financial commitments.
Through this review, a number of roles have been impacted. Unfortunately, your role is one of them.
Therefore, your last day of working with WW is today, May 14th.
Your last day as a WW employee will be Friday, May 29th, though you will not be working after today.
I will be available over the next few weeks if you would like to speak with me. I know this is a lot to take in. As part of this transition, we'll be doing the following;
• Paying you through 5/29/2020
• Providing you with a permanent WW membership, at no cost to you.
We ask that you keep this conversation confidential. It shouldn't be shared with any colleagues, WW contacts (such as Heath solutions partners), or our members. All WW employees, members, and partners need to learn about the company's strategic business decision, and how they affect them, through our senior leadership team.
When are the new stations or newspapers going to pick up on this story and expose WW for what it is? How about a twitter campaign with the #wearen'tWW or something of the sort? I have seen nothing on twitter at all about this not on the WW page or on Oprahs page. Where is the outrage?
The 4 minute phone call from WW was so brief, I barely had time to comprehend what was being said! I know it won't change anything, but does anyone have a transcript of it! And sorry to all of my fellow WW employees who, along with myself, were let go! We are worth more!!
Who signed a gag order ? I doubt anyone signed anything but a non-compete when they were hired. If they believe they are so righteous they shouldn't be worried about the court of public opinion.
Talk to whoever you want, call newspapers & magazines. Let WW try to enforce it. They will put themselves out of business.
I want to thank all the members and former employees who are standing strong with the 4000 dedicated WW employees fired on 5/14/20 in a 4 minute Zoom call. We helped you through Covid-19 like the Health Heroes and made WW money. We understand it's a business, however the GAG order and the PR stunt pulled off from Mindy Grossman and Oprah is UNETHICAL. We deserve an public recognition and apology.. We have FREE solutions to help Members get Healthy. Cancel WW and support our message to big Corporations.
What c-ap ! No surprise since this has been done before on conference calls.
I am happy that the staff will be at least compensated by state unemployment with an extra 600.00 per week. To WW, shame on you adding more people to the unemployment lines and almost 2 million dollars a week to the taxpayers expenses. Which financial genius came up with this timing ? I stand in solidarity with past staff. I won't spend another dollar on W.W.
We were done dirty , I worked in two territories, I was coach in both territories along with guide, location coordinator, personal coach and click to chat coach
Working 7 workshops and every night chat or personal coaching
I was laid of by the TM that I was shared with not the one I was under
In support of all the WW employees that were let go I am canceling my membership. I will continue to follow the plan and lose weigh on my own. This chicken sh– company might say one lost membership is no big dea, but what if it were thousands.
I’ve worked for WW for over 8 years as a coach and guide and I’m just heartbroken about what has happened. I did get to keep my job, but have a couple of good friends who were terminated. I don’t understand how, in anyone’s mind, this could seem like the right way to handle things. As many here have expressed, I was never in this for the money. $23.50 per meeting is hardly what we’re worth for all the time and emotional energy it takes to be a coach. My members are worth it though. I’m thinking long and hard about working for a company that preaches “wellness” but cares so little about the employees that keep it afloat and retain the membership. To every single person who has lost their job, I am so very sorry and I pray that something good will come out of this for you. It’s obvious that you care deeply about the health and wellness of people, because you worked at Weight Watchers for a pittance. Please take care of yourselves and don’t let Weight Watchers ruin what you have worked so hard for You owe it to yourselves!
If you have Twitter make sure you tweet to @Oprah and @OprahMagazine with questions about the inhumane layoff that her company conducted (yes, WW is her company as she's a major stockholder)... We should continue to Tweet to her until she acknowledges the mistake and pledges that this will never be done again.
After such a traumatic termination on a Zoom call (we were kept silent) WW should be forbiden to use the term "wellness" ever again.
Best PR stunt WW, how much money did they pay to keep this out of the nightly news.
Instead Oprah is rewarded for giving a positive speech to seniors, a free seminar to promote WW membership.
Funny she did not acknowledge to those seniors that her company was laying off thousands on a 4 min Zoom.
I understand Big Corporate business and Billionaires it's a business. "We the people" need to be the CHANGE and put the 7 Nolan Principals in place for all our Government and Corporations. We have choices Do Not Take the Abuse, Do Not Buy their Products, Don't endorse people/brands.
Covid-19 is a blessing, it's waking everyone up to the major corruption in our society, government and big corporations who only care about the bottom line...
I'm using this as a motivator to Vote, get involved and make serious changes how I choose to spend my time and my money. I'm FREE and will help those former WW members learn about REAL FOOD, REAL RELATIONSHIPS and REAL WAYS TO FINALLY CONTROL THEIR WEIGHT FROM FAKE FOOD OUR GOVERNMENT/FOOD INDUSTRY ENDORSES TO MAKE US SICK.
Join our Fired & Former WW/Weight Watchers private Facebook group. This group is for grieving members who need friends and colleagues to support the unethical termination of our employment from WW formerly Weight Watchers. We are family!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2744225169152180/
- JPG
Exceptionally messed up how this was done.
Be careful with Facebook. Read the docs, and we are not allowed to discuss WW in public. Using Facebook links every post to your name, it'll be easy for WW to get into that group (they can just impersonate a coach) and find out who is saying what - that's all legal documentation.
We should either stick with this board or create fake FB profiles.
I'd be happy to consider all alternatives but there is no way I am discussing anything WW related using my name and profile.
20 years with WW. Fired. They kept the person hired 10 months ago. This is so wrong.
To the Facebook admin. If your intention is to have your Facebook group be a private group, you’re super Duper verification questions really should be questions that only WW staff members would know the answers to.
Mindy and Oprah ruined this great company.
They should ask people who work in the field what our members what and need.
People in a Board Room or in Corporate dont have a clue about our wonderful members and what drive business.
The thousands that were fired could of answered that years ago.
To all that was let go I'm sincerely sorry.
I am a guide that did not get laid off. I’m struggling with guilt because wonderful people who have worked longer than me are gone. I was a guide for 1 meeting a week and currently zoom support for that meeting. I just don’t know if I can handle working for a company that did this to so many people. Still sorting out me feelings and seriously waiting for my next therapy session before quitting. I don’t want to make a rash decision on emotion only. I just want to let the people who are gone know some of us left behind and also losing sleep. I seriously think if I stick it out it won’t be long before I’m gone too. My advice is if you can, cash out your wellness account. I didn’t spend my 200 points when this happened but have now! I work the meetings for the people not for the money. You can’t get rich making 21.50 a zoom call as a guide. I’ve heard coaches get paid much more than guides but have never been told how much. I don’t think WW would want us guides to know how underpaid we have been. To all the wonderful people no longer working for WW, know that I am praying and thinking of you several times a day. You ARE missed!