In recent weeks, a number of colleagues in my store have suddenly been suspended/and or fired for minor offenses- things that in the past might have just resulted in a "conversation" at best. In addition, there is no more talk about "empowerment" at the morning rallies, as in "you are all empowered to make the customer "Happy"- give them the coupon, the incorrect sales price, etc."
Instead everyone is working under a cloud of fear. Its no longer just a morale issue, this is serious- good workers are losing their jobs.
My theory plain and simple: Inventory numbers must have been awful, especially due to rampant theft in our store, we all expected that. What we didn't anticipate was that AP was going to go after us, the apparent low-hanging-fruit, to save their own behinds after awful shortage results. In addition, I believe this is also a planned strategy to improve the store, and therefor, the company's bottom line ahead of a possible takeover attempt when the board of directors meet next month: If your store lays you off- it needs to pay unemployment (cost to company). If, however, you get fired, you get nothing and the store is off the hook for paying unemployment costs. Not saying I'm necessarily right- but it does make sense given the very recent events in our store. Word of warning to all my fellow colleagues: watch your back, and if there is any question about about using a coupon, changing a price, anything at all at this precarious time, call a manager and have him or her put THEIR numbers in the register.
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Be careful Harold Square. I hear he's at your store next. Don't let him bully you. If your uncomfortable how questioning is going you can walk out or ask for someone else to be in the room with you. A manager. Things you have been able to do for years he now says you can't and tries to fire you over it. Also don't sign the paper he types up if you don't agree. Tell him you want to take it to your attorney to read first. He will make you feel like you have to sign but you don't. Check out your rights.
They pick the low hanging fruit.
It is happening at our store too. So bad I want to know who is protecting the employees against AP? I know the store manager is not. He is accusing people with out actual proof. Just what he thinks is happening. The interrogation is brutal. Employees should not be put through that abuse when we are just doing our jobs.
A few people not working in our location any longer and of course if you ask a manager or captain they say they don't know or that the person quit?? Believe me they are watching that's why we have 3 new AP personnel. Looking to see if everyone is doing their job or doing anything they should not be doing..like taking extra breaks and if you need to talk to HR in store it has to be off the clock??? Things that were allowed before are no longer allowed.
It's funny how people won't believe a fact because they prefer to believe in something to further their cause.
Macy*s stopped doing this in 2014. There are several factors as to why it simply couldn't be done today. I betting that no-one even knows the true name of what this process was called to start with.
Secondly IF you did take something of value (without permission) from a placed you were employed then you embezzled. A clear violation in any organization. So why defend anyone who would take something of value that wasn't theirs? Why act as if the person who in fact 'stole' something is in the right?
Would it be OK if a someone took something of value from you? I betting you wouldn't support of defend that action.
- 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the shoplifting in chicago area macys stores is blacks. black as the ace of spades.
@bugd+1rPfa09e comments like that are part of the problem. You think it’s the minorities but you’d be surprised who’s robbing these stores in plain sight.
No Sir- that practice was stopped a long time ago. You Sir are incorrect and paranoid.
They stopped that process in Feb 2014. 100%. For several reasons. They have not done it after that date. You couldn't do it now if you wanted to. Case reports are far to scrutinized.
No you are dead wrong.. they still do it and will continue to do it..
My store AP fired a entire dept just by putting out cash, and goods..
They stopped that process in Feb 2014. 100%. For several reasons. They have not done it after that date. You couldn't do it now if you wanted to. Case reports are far to scrutinized.
What AP is doing is called “going fishing” and they absolutely try to go for internals vs externals. Only external they go after now is ORC (organized retail crime) too many lawsuits happening going after low priority shoplifters, too many strings these days.
Are you kidding me? Money is not the only thing they plant. Expensive merchandise as well, gift cards, bags with clothing in it?? I've seen it all. Hoping some dummy will fall for it.
They definitely do. I've seen it!
The person said that they didn't think AP wouldn't put money, or gift cards etc.. highly mistaken, management here, YES THEY DO!
I highly doubt AP 'plants' money to see if people take it. Or 'plants' items on the dock or where ever.
We don't have AP in my store. Merchandise walks out the door every day and we can't do anything about it. I have to wait for them to call Paul Blart mall cop and if we are lucky they may have gotten them on camera what a joke. We are doomed unless something changes. I can't play detective and do selling ,fitting rooms,markdowns and 10 other jobs. Its time to get unwoke and not broke!!!
Colleagues get terminated for not following policy or misconduct. Period.
You can not make AP 'numbers' with those cases. Not in any retailer.
As the original poster on this thread, I just want to clarify: The shortage in our store is NOT due to employees giving coupons to Macy's card holders or being given "override ability" from overworked and understaffed management. All one has to do is take a look at the fitting room floor, or check the pockets of tried-on clothing, to see all the designer tags that are no longer attached to the clothes that were brought into the fitting room.
Having staff meet and greet every customer on the selling floor to let them know we've "noticed them" is not deterring anybody. Why can't AP make their numbers the old fashioned way, you know, by catching real thieves? Obviously, markdowns are not "shortage". Get real.
Nobody follows you around. There are cameras everywhere in todays society. Use you head. People pass by 1000's of cameras per day even in your own neighborhood.
its macys policy to rid the company of high paying associates or potential lawsuits
That entire sentence is a lawsuit. Ge-z what some people will type and not even realize what they are saying.
I know for a fact that AP puts out money on Register to see if you would take it.. or leave something of value in the stockroom to see if you will take it.
They have cameras in the stock room.. they are called snake cameras which are very small. AP also leaves out gift cards, cash, and Jewelry .
And they follow you around the store as well..
its macys policy to rid the company of high paying associates or potential lawsuits
Pffft… that’s on your store manager…
At my location sales people could use a highlighter in flame glo red marker circling the “strict” policy and we will take it back! There was one where our store manager got on the Theatro to let everyone know that she “Ok’d” a return for a customer who was going to come in that day to return a purchase that was a year old!!! Yeah… as far as security, I think I could roll out a 4-way and no one would notice…
Meanwhile the AP team is stealing 15K of Air Jordans and selling them on offer up along with this tarantula looking sidekick .
Seems like they want to get rid of all the generalists/former sales associates who have been there for years who are at a higher pay rate.
Markdowns are not shortage, it's margin. Now if you markdown something to $1.00 from say $100.00 for your friend that's another story. But isn't prosecutable in most states has the employee may have access to complete the transaction. Ultimately AR makes a choice to separate.
So even if you chased those type of transactions you wouldn't reduce shortage in the store. Shortage in all retail is simple theft and fraud. Every retail LP/AP division chases those types of cases. That is the primary function of the division.
Everyone that loses a position doesn't tell their friends the whole store either. It's always; something simple, everyone does it, done it forever, no one ever told me and so on. Sadly even in todays environment employee theft will ki-l a retailer (research the topic) for several different variables.
Does separations put people on edge? Yes it will, unless you are not doing anything you are worried about. But seldom if ever do co-workers know why someone was separated unless you see them with the police.
Sears did the same thing. They target specific employees.
Is this Walt Whitman Store 102?
You need to get a manager to do the override. I would be surprised if people were getting fired for just one offence of something like this
It is happening at my store and I was suspended!! I had to defend myself and give reasons why I changed the price. Colleague support got involved and believed me. Finally back to work now. The most stressful thing to go through. Yes make sure you have the manager put their number in for overrides!!!
It is happening in my store!!
This is not happening at my store.