Thread regarding Staples Inc. layoffs

Was let go this year after 23 years with the co. They could care less about the people that work hard for years. It’s all about their bottom line. Now instead of enjoying my life at 58, I’m struggling to find a job that pays a fraction of what I was making and hoping to not lose everything I worked so hard for. Staples S—s!!!

@YOwyo3B-iqg you express some of my feelings about Staples too, I was there 12 years and had many good times, I miss Staples but I've been practicing and my aim is much improved.

Because it's easy to be a total slacker these days.

The worst they can do is fire me- which I'm expecting anyways.

If one simply does not care and floats through their day accomplishing the minimal necessary, it's easy to ignore the constant criticisms and take a check every week. That's what Staples has really come to.

I resigned because the layoffs were constant and stressful. It k--ls morale. When I joined, layoffs happened about twice a year (Feb and summer). Now, layoffs are happening continuously. You hear of people being cut nearly every week now.

As someone slightly younger than 50 I do fear for future career prospects, because yes I might have more experience, but how much is that experience worth to an employer? How often do they need that experience vs just straightforward day-to-day work that someone younger and cheaper could do.

I'm in a field where I know I have to keep learning the new tricks, lingo, and skills in order to stay competitive and that I need to find ways to differentiate my role from that of someone younger.

Good companies do value experience, but sometimes that experience comes with complacency and a lack of willingness to grow. I've managed folks across wide age range (interns to 55+) on the same team, and while the experience / maturity counts, it's sometimes hard to make the argument that the additional "experience" the 55 year old brought to the table was even necessary on the type of team I had. So as a manager you need to nudge people up or nudge them out, there really isn't room for people to just stay on doing the same job for 30 years.

Staples screwed up big in that way. They kept people on in dying tech roles without any support to grow / learn, add skills and then when things changed, those people had nowhere to go. Of course people should be motivated to grow themselves too, but Staples did a really terrible job of meeting employees half-way (few training opportunities, barely existent tuition reimbursement, etc)

@YOwyo3B-2dzb Canadians get better packages than Americans

Staples is the Bozo Clown of ecommerce.

I'd never hire anyone that worked there more than one year.

Because everyone is entitled to one huge mistake.

Everyone will get fired until Staples gets resold into different parts. You can wait for package or get out. The constant layoffs was too stressful, so I left.

Canadians will get better packages than Americans.

At one time, VPs (level 41) got one year severance, but not sure is that is still the rule. I was at Staples for 13 years and got 20 weeks. Staples is still respected in the job market. Everyone has to make their own decision about the risk/reward of staying vs. going, so it is hard to generalize.

Sorry you won’t be getting a year severance

I was at Staples for 14 years and only received 16 weeks. So 52 weeks will NEVER HAPPEN! Also plan on the Severence being taxed at 32% so you will only get $68 per $100 of severance.

I’m still here waiting for my package. I hear a restructure is coming soon to my dept. They’ve hired a new Sr Mgr who will probably replace my current manager and restructure the whole team. After being here for 15 years I ain’t leaving with my severance package which should be close to 1 year of pay.

I meet Broomfield, CO (stupid spell check)

I was in a meeting in Brookfield in 2013, so this was Staples era but the AVP that said this is still there. In front of at least 25 other senior and mid level managers he made the statement that our sales team is getting older, in fact gave us the average age. And we will need to start recruiting younger individuals, my manager, his counterpart was trying to get him to shut up. But he just continued because he likes to hear himself speak. I was shocked that he was basically saying this because it was discriminatory. So even before SP, there were plans. Then TH decided to start a college recruiting plan and internship to bring in younger sales people. So this has been the plan for a long time.

Many of the people in that meeting are still mid and upper managers, I have the list of those in attendance.......just too bad I don’t know a case action lawyer who would pursue the case

Why do you think Staples has been training young, out of college B2B reps? Get them up to speed, lay-off tenured reps a year or two after Go-To and fill them with lower salaried young ones. Wake up! A smooth process of replacement. I saw this company as my final stop but realize that it likely is not.

As an over 55 year old white person, i get less job offers than a 25 year old. My job was outsourced to Indians making half what I made. And knew less than half of what I knew. They were clueless but they did not care.

1/3 of the price and they'll say they're doing the same work.

but they can't, they just don't know enough. I just left a position where they tried that, secretly hired a guy to replace me, although I could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice. But that manager screwed himself. It will take that guy twice as long, and he'll make a lot more mistakes and their cash will run out in a few months anyway. So I left and my replacement won't deliver anything in time.

SP/Staples does care about age. And you race and your s-x, and ........everything but a white, male over 50 and you are probably in the sweet spot.

And, age does matter in the workforce. I can get some smarta— college grad for a third of the price of an experienced valuable seasoned professional but who cares, the smarta— will do what ever I tell him/her to do.

I have too many friend between 50-60 who can’t even get an interview.

If an immediate reorg and being moved under an id--t hadn't happened I'd probably still be there, but moved on after 2 years.

Overall there are still good people and interesting work to do, in spite of the chaos and fear. I disagree about it being bad for your resume, but I suppose it depends on your specialty. There are jobs to be had, and like others I had recruiters banging down my door. My advice is to make sure your Linkedin profile looks good.

I haven't actually looked for a job but I can assure you that your age and time at Staples are not a detriment.

hahaha.

Trust me, having Staples on your resume is NOT a negative. Your age is not important, that is a an old myth from 25 years ago. Companies want your value, competencies and experience to take their company to a new place or to a level they are not familiar with. There are many smaller organizations who are looking for people in this strong economy. Being comfortable in your position is the only real reason not to move on.

I'm calling BS. I get almost weekly inquiries from recruiters and I work for Staples. I am not leaving because I know that it takes effort to turn a ship.

Nobody wants to hire mutineers.

If you're negative about Staples then you've already quit and are an anchor so it's best to leave. If not, ahoy matey.

after 15 years as an IT professional I was shown the door last year.I can confirm that my age(>60) & gender(Male) have not led to many interviews. A few recruiters have told me the long hitch at Staples is a detriment.Sure I'm bitter & I despise SP(I wouldn't pee on them if they were on fire) I hope they get what they truly deserve.

I have been at Staples for over 15 years and feel trapped. I am looking to leave but not getting a lot of interviews -having Staples on my resume so long has ruined future job offers. There were several years when it was a great place to work! Now there’s no stability - you can be fired anytime. All my friends have either been fired or left. Management s---s and treat everyone like dirt!

I left after 15 years this past March. What a breath of fresh air. Every GM I talk to who left never regret leaving. It was a great Job until the micro mgt from the RVP started. The DM is in way over his head and is a poor communicator. He sells the job during interviews like it is a piece of cake. Then when reality sinks in the Managers state this is not what was presented to me in my interview. I would not go back to my district for a $20k raise. The reason most of you are sticking around is the $ is good and is hard to find work with the pay. Trust me quality of life out weighs the $.

We stay because we're trapped, like a burning building with its exits on fire. A resume entry of Staples is an automatic disqualifier for jobs at Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, etc.

Until Sycamore I planned to retire from Staples, but due to my s-x and age and unwillingness to conform or drink the red koolaide I was given a early forced retirement. No one was really unhappy until the dark forces of SP move in like rodents in a abandoned warehouse. Now Staples if full of SP manager feces and the place stinks.

I'm still at Staples and am trying to get out. it takes time to interview. I'm a developer, the workload is crushing. We are working nights and weekends. I have managers and PMs breathing down my neck to fix bugs asap, and to do MORE with less. I have done phone screenings but onsite interviews is hard - my pto is limited and need to save for kid activities and doctor appointments

I actually had a great time at Staples from 2015 until mid-2017. Then my boss and I had a falling-out and I left. The company I'm at now is unquestionably a way better and healthier company, although it's a bit dull. I still miss the good times I had at Staples.

People do not like CHANGE!!!!!