For far too long the real fuel behind a companies success has not been a CEO, COO, CSO or any other Corp Office Executive title that sits around and wonders how they can manipulate the company to make their stock options and/or grants worth more money. It's the folks like you and me that help the customer, answer the phone, stock the shelf, package up the online order or heck even catch the shoplifter. We make Macys successful so we need to make sure we do everything we can everyday to make it successful. We win or fail as a team it's that simple. When a customer asks if we have product don't just go the stockroom and wait 3 minutes before telling the customer nope sorry all out of stock. Make sure we are truly out that $100 missed purchase multiple when you think about how many times that attitude is projected each day in our stores. If you don't like Macy's go find another job that you do enjoy.
I'm not 100% probably not even 90% behind Macy's they have alot of things wrong especially in the HR area of the business however it's retail. This was never meant to be a career it's like fastfood if you want to make it a career then buckle down and get promoted or leave get experience in leadership then come back and create positive change.
This round of cutbacks was necessary because there were too many bloated salaries floating in the middle level of management that actually didn't do anything that helped stores succeed. I mean someone who emails 15 times a day to send out data that can be obtained on your own is just wasting time and justifying their position. I say good bye District folks and hello to a streamlined process. Remember a companies #1 controllable expense is payroll and we just saved tens of millions of dollars with a stroke of the pen.
I own Macy's stock and I believe this company can be great again if they listen to people who have been successful and stop prinarily promoting from within only. Bring in fresh ideas for every department especially operations. Promoting sales people to Ops roles without any prior experience in Ops especially now that Ops oversees AP is stupid and borderline dangerous, all OAPM should be required ha e at least 2-3 years of AP and 2-3 years of Ops experience or you are not getting the job. The days of hooking up our buddies is over.
Better days ahead folks, one foot in front of the other. Let's show why Macy's will still be here in 25 years and other retailers will just be a memory.
10 replies (most recent on top)
"The VAST majority of people let go in this round were fantastic employees from all roles, all across the company. In most cases, this was clearly not a performance-based purge"
This is 100% true. I can speak for SF tech. Annual layoffs actually have started back in 2015 with contractors, then low performers, etc. Since 2017, they haven't been backfilling everyone who left the sinking ship. The team shrunk into 30-40% it's original size and they were still getting things done.
Yes, you can argue that the A players have left Macy's but it doesn't mean whomever were left are flunkies. In many cases, they're still there for many different reasons, often they have to prioritize their personal life over work for either visa, aging parent, illness, etc. Many are just afraid of looking for a job and interviewing.
90% of these folks will find something else soon. They will find that it's not as bad as they think. However, they will realize that they shouldn't expect their new job to last more than 5 years since that's now how the world works today.
Those who are still in Macy's, better get ready. No guarantee your job will be there in 5 years either. I'm actually pretty sure your CEO won't be there in the next 2 years. The board and stakeholders do not tolerate failures lightly.
"This round of cutbacks was necessary because there were too many bloated salaries floating in the middle level of management that actually didn't do anything that helped stores succeed."
Don't let your opinion of a few justify your casting a similar judgment on the 2,500 affected individuals. The company is much larger than what you can see. Most of the fat was cut years ago. The VAST majority of people let go in this round were fantastic employees from all roles, all across the company. In most cases, this was clearly not a performance-based purge. Entire roles, departments, and locations were eliminated, not select individuals.
Also, please keep in mind that you get paid for every hour you work. Salaried workers in many cases have been putting in way more than full-time hours as a rule for several years now due to previous cutbacks.
Sorry, that's inane. You can't just wish a company will be successful through positive thinking. Of that's what get you through the day, then fine. Just remember this when you get laid off later.
What do you think Blackberry told each other 15 years ago? It'll be fine if we just believe.
Dept store is a relic.
OP, you have the best attitude regarding teamwork and being the positive change you want to see. Please don't let the other responses here diminish that drive to be the best you can be at your job.
I encourage you to find a company that values your attitude and a team that can benefit from it. Macy's isn't it. I spent two decades at Macy's. They're a typical corporation that values stock price and shareholders over employee well being. They are too big to reflect internally to make positive changes to improve the company. This isn't deliberate on the company's part. It is just the nature of huge corporations. You are just a cog. Your loyalty will never be reciprocated by the corporation. Find a smaller company that is making a difference that can use someone with your attitude. Best of luck.
Bla Bla Bla I’ll bet the Titanic thought it would still be around a year later too ?
Fools !
25 years!!! this is certainly the most ignorant post I have ever read. Especially after the announcement of the recent layoffs where you are critical of your fellow colleagues wages. You do not know their background or experience. I hope you realize that your store is probably the next to close, as soon as the lease is up. It matters not the hard work that has been done by ALL COLLEAGUES across the nation. 125 more stores will close. Period. No matter the hard work that has been accomplished within the store. It's called a business decision.
Thank you though for sharing your ignorant opinion of the retail business. Macy's will not survive . They are already looking for an investor to take over. Maybe if your lucky they will let you be the last one out to turn off the lights.
The original poster is clearly selfish!!! It is people like you that must go and take the stock with you. The very fact that you are against promoting from within in itself is strange. Why get promoted anyway to be canned eventually. When you loose your job you can tell someone these rounds of cutbacks are necessary. You have zero sympathy or empathy for others. Don't forget "empathy" is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another!!!
Hi Jeff!
Dear poster....... Bloated salaries??? You speak as if you know all. Obviously you are one of the minimum wage workers speaking. Go stand behind the wrap stand with your coffee cup. You will be the next to go !
I enjoy your optimism but it’s not going to happen and it’s because of outside reasons you don’t even for C or even understand yet let alone drones and robots taking over. I would ditch their stock and buy bitcoin