Thread regarding Walgreens layoffs

Will layoffs at support center save or sink the company?

AI can be very helpful if used correctly. Lot of talk that it can replace human workers. That is absolute garbage.

AI helps you do your job better. I am choosing words carefully and not saying faster. Before AI, it was hard to achieve required quality in given amount of time to complete tasks. Now with AI, you have an opportunity. You can and should still take as long as you were but use AI to achieve the quality. With AI, you have to use lot of review/refinement cycles to get to desired quality. It takes time but you can achieve really good quality deliverables.

So I say layoffs based on thinking AI will replace humans will just sink the company. But the new year is on the way and talks about 50% or 70% layoffs are surfacing. I say if they don’t think it through carefully they are highly likely to sink the sinking ship faster than fixing it. The company they paid $10 billion for, may just become 3 billion with 70% layoffs.


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| 2253 views | | 13 replies (last December 29) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1kd4gwrv9

13 replies (most recent on top)

I don't think our IT partners are capable of implementing a functional AI system.... But I don't think that will stop the company from trying.

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Post ID: @14y+1kd4gwrv9

@t0 Indeed there is a Centralized Services. It'll be interesting to see If Sycamore makes use of AI to eliminate jobs in this area. Doing so would most likely further erode the customer experience but so far our new owners do not seem concerned about improving the experience for customer or employee. Whether it's AI, cost-cutting, layoffs, etc., Sycamore is going to have to put some lipstick on this pig before they dump us.

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Post ID: @tf+1kd4gwrv9

@k8 while some people like to panic others with their comments, there is a group called centralized services at Walgreens

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Post ID: @t0+1kd4gwrv9

@g9

Centralized services is not what we call it at Walgreens. Go back to focusing on priorities at your employer. We know this guys are causing panic purposefully.

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Post ID: @k8+1kd4gwrv9

@g9 When will the 75% layoff start?

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Post ID: @j6+1kd4gwrv9

@hg

Thank you.

It is very refreshing to read your post.

Did you know that the military-industrial-complex was actually called the congressional-military-industrial-complex but they dropped the congressional part because it was a little too truthful.

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Post ID: @hs+1kd4gwrv9

You're simply talking about training your replacement (AI). The type of spin you're using is illogical and frankly naive. Also the private equity MO is to tank it further. You might want to research more in terms of that as well. Neither of the aforementioned are strictly related to Walgreens. Corporations like during covid will work hand in hand with the military industrial complex/governments etc... AI replacing jobs, handing out UBI, social credit system (China model) welcome to the new reality.

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Post ID: @hg+1kd4gwrv9

@g9 just got off the phone and came toggling over here to spread terrible rumors? Obviously haven’t worked at a store. No way all self checkouts would work with all the issues that occur at the register. You’re right, we would want to invest into robots designed by Roomba which has declare bankruptcy.

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Post ID: @h6+1kd4gwrv9

Just got off the phone with a reliable but unnamed source. Expect 75% layoffs across all major sectors of Walgreens. Stores, Dist Centers, Centralized Services and others. Walgreens is investing $millions$ into AI company from Pakistan. All check-outs in store will be 'self checkout'. RX will be dispensed via robots designed by 'ROOMBA'. Same robots will clean the stores during slow periods. More to come.

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Post ID: @g9+1kd4gwrv9

"We are going to rely more on AI" is the new "We are streamlining to better focus on our customers!"

It's just a unique word salad change to "sell" their layoffs as a good thing.

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Post ID: @dr+1kd4gwrv9

@bq Who knows how they came up with 50% or 70% rumors. If AI is the fall back then it is not going to work. Even 30% is too high. When the companies reduce, they do like 10% to 15%. Not saying that is what is coming in any shape or form. Don’t think the rumors are true but is good as they make you think “what if” and make you be prepared i.e. Get your resume ready etc.

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Post ID: @cc+1kd4gwrv9

@OP To clarify, are there talks of replacing employees in Centralized Services with AI, resulting in mass layoffs? Please elaborate.

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Post ID: @bq+1kd4gwrv9

AI will replace certain jobs. This is not unique to Walgreens though. My best guess is 30% cuts coming in January.

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Post ID: @a5+1kd4gwrv9

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