I have been an executive with Macy's for 9 years. A month ago, my manager pulls me in and out of the blue states that I am inconsistent in my leadership behaviors and he has felt this way for a while. This was the very first I had heard anything about it. Every year excellent reviews, and my numbers are always above the store and company, and when I state this he responds that this is behaviors and not metrics. To protect myself, I ask for copies of all prior coachings emailed to me, as well as specific measurable actions he would like to see take place. Again, I am told that it is behavior and therefore not measurable. Today, I am told he has decided that I have not improved significantly, and that he will be going to HR. Call me crazy, but doesn't just sound like he can decide whatever he wants. It is obvious I am not wanted there, and I have to ask why? Trust me, I will also be going to HR and let them know I feel targeted
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Remember that HR exists to protect the company, not the employee. If you have 9 years, get some advice from an employment lawyer before you reach out to HR.
Did your store recently change regional leadership? Your store manager may be under pressure to have more "relocatable" managers with "future potential" and getting coached from their regional and divisional to get rid of long term leaders like you who aren't mobile.
Our store recently (start of the year) changed regions and the new regional leadership doesn't care about performance, tenure, or what you have done for the company in the past, only if a manager is relocatable so they have people to move around to replace the huge number of leaders who are quitting or getting fired for not being able to meet crazy always increasing levels of expectations.
Funny thing, the company sets a performance goal – say for example service or loyalty metrics, then the regional team sets an artificially more challenging goal because they want to be better than the other regions, then the division VP sets even more challenging goals because they too want to be the best. The company goals are already challenging, but at every level of leadership someone is taking it on themselves to make goals even more aggressive.
These leaders are happy to trade on the hard labor of their teams by setting crazy goals that drive turnover, which means that they need executives in the pipeline that are relocatable and can fill the positions of those that burnout or give up. We certainly don't need relocatable managers because we are growing, we keep closing stores, eliminating jobs, and downsizing....but as the jobs become more unrealistic, we need replacements we can churn through and move as needed.
Good luck, hope thing workout.
This is called intimidation.......quite often employees will quit after these empty threats. They WANT you to quit........then they don't have to pay severance or unemployment issues. Document everything.....next time your boss asks to speak with you, bring a fellow manager into the meeting to "take notes" since these conversations are so important and you don't want to miss anything with your own note taking.
Sadly. this is something I have heard over and over again when they want to begin getting rid of managers. Based on your information, I assume you are being targeted for some reason and maybe will be factored into any cuts coming in the future. Trust me there is a life outside of Macy's. There is a a reason turnover is so high in the company! Good luck!!!!!!
OP... You are white, and probably 40's? That's why.
your being railroaded out of the company... this is what you do... get docs that go back many years that say your doing good. everyone at macys has a behavior problem or a "customer" complaint .which i expect will be next against you..
here's how they will railroad you:
1: fake customer complaints
2: you authorized a discount that wasn't within the "policy"
3: you have one slacker on your team therefore your entire team under you is all slackers
4: they say you stole something and make up fake facts to prove their end
5: they will ride you hard every day and be nothing but nasty
6:coworkers will complain about you
7: you are not working enough hours that are needed
8: they want to hire a younger college kid for less in your place
9: they might come out and say they need to cut one manager ... YOU !!!
10: they dont like your attitude towards being railroaded so there for your not good for the team
11: the will do criminal background checks on you and any type of background checks to find anything to get you gone.. they did this in nyc macys
here's how you hit back: if you drink or smoke p-t for fun .. stop they will say your on dr-gs and dr-g test you.. ive seen this happen !
1: mention hiring a employment lawyer and start documenting the harassments
2: when pulled into a private room hit record on your phone and get what is said.. macys could fire you for this( if caught )
but this would prove anything type of wording that i guarantee you they will deny later.. if you got it recorded it than they are effed.
3: start doing less and blend in with the rest of the slackers then you will be promoted to ceo
4: just say the magic word of im going to speak with a lawyer over all this and state your concerns with your good track record.. make sure store manager and instore suckers know this..
bottom line your days are numbered regardless.. I never seen a manager or associates recover from the railroading ..
signed
macys railroad company
I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Former Red badge here. A similar thing happened to me as well. The store Manager that hired me was an amazing leader and mentor. He got a huge promotion and left. The new Manager that came in was on a mission to clean house and get rid of the people she did not like or was intimidated by. I was one of them. It sounds like you have been targeted for some reason. Either you make too much or age is a factor. I would really try hard to find another job outside of Macy's. Keep up with any documentation as Macy's is very shady and will use what may seem like simple conversations as a coaching platform. I would also keep asking for documentation on their part and follow up on what improvements need to be made. Best of luck to you.
Start looking for a new job while you still have one. Macys has an arsenal of lawyers that ensure every step to terminate is legal. Your manager is being coached on how to do the process. "Behavioral" is observation based, ie. eye rolls, sighs, confrontational words and your manager's "feels". Try proving you didn't do it. Successful Macys executives are promotable & mobile. You are either coached up or out. Your manager is being pressured to make changes or he is out. My sympathies and good luck!
You have already been chosen to be axed. He was told to do this. He is just feathering a case. You are either too good at your job and/or too expensive. Most states are fire at will, so we don't have a lot of rights. Just because something sounds unfair doesn't mean they can't do it. Your saving grace on a better exit package could be to accuse them of illegal discrimination– it doesn't have to be overt– my fiend got them at age and it was all true and he ended up w a much bigger package. FYI, Think if you have ever been made to feel that way. FYI your boss will be gone within a year of you.
This is an actual example of when legal council might eventually be needed.
Sounds like you are being targeted. How long has your manager been there? I ask because if it's a new store manager, then it is possible they are trying to get rid of you or demote you. If they have been there for several years as your leader, then someone may be telling him what to do. Either way, you have all records and documentation to back you up. It's not like all of a sudden you changed or became inconsistent. On top of that, you have the numbers to back you up as well.
Additionally, how can he say behaviors are not measurable? Isn't that something that should be documented in the quarterly check–ins? If he has no documentation that you are not doing well on behaviors, then he is doing a poor job on his part. No documentation = didn't happen. He can't just pull that out of his behind and SURPRISE use it against you. If he does, use it against him and get him fired.