Thread regarding Walgreens layoffs

This excellent article calls out Maria Lensing by name. Apparently she has several lawsuits pending. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/walgreens-world-hurt-its-theyre-own-fault-brittain-ladd/?fbclid=IwAR1Qg__CQ8h5xElAwhxtxnBzpwsWLwfnhKFPG5XPj6PFRUZftU3L0igD2qc

HA! That is RICH. Where on this planet are you getting your info???
No need to worry your silly little DEI brainwaves any further…
A disproportionate amount of the individuals laid off to date have been Caucasians. Of those, a disproportionate number have been males, middle aged. And nearly ALL- despite race, gender, or age- have had a wealth of experience, knowledge, and years of service & dedication to the company, the industry, or BOTH. Additionally, many have kids in college, high school, and even middle school.
In contrast, what’s been disproportionately brought in are inexperienced, inadequate, underqualified, and/or visibly incompetent individuals. Many if not most of the individuals are POC, female, or both. WBA frankly should not be surprised if a class action comes knocking in the not too distant future. It has been brazen with little to no effort to camouflage. There is nothing fair or equitable in what has happened or how people have been treated.
Some brought in at the very highest levels cannot even function at the most basic levels… like, say, the English language for example. Odd as the CIO positions I read specifically list the ability to communicate well as a requirement. Nothing, however, about matching shoes and belts.🤔
Good buddies don’t equate to good business. Hence, this once great ship is now reduced to a dingy. A company once leading not only in healthcare & business, but in promoting from within, aka rewarding on MERIT, has gone down quicker than a drum solo.

Here’s the list shareholders need to see: How many photo shoots, magazine covers, articles, newspaper interviews, cable appearances, and other examples of self-promotion ad nauseam can be attributed to this disastrous C-mE-O since the day she started?? You know- when the stock was $59/share🙄

I am curious to find out how many of the eliminations were women and people of color. Based on anecdotal information, it seems a disproportionate number of women & people of color were eliminated in these two layoffs - both in March/April and now in May. Is there a list available somewhere?

I would have to agree with others on Maria Lensing. She is one of the worst leaders I have come across in my entire career if 30 years. She is insensitive, incompetent and insensible. The last thing she cares about is people but she puts on a good show of trying to care of people. Always narrates the same scripted stories, examples and glorification of herself. In reality she is shallow and arrogant. She calls herself an engineer at heart but has no idea about engineering. It is sad that Walgreens has incapable leaders like her in charge of taking the tech team forward. I wish no organization and no one has to deal with a leader like Maria Lensing

Although I must acknowledge that I consider Maria insufficient as a capable leader for a complex organization like WAG IT, it seems to me that she is primarily seeking a resume boost before moving on to another position. Ultimately, the CIO and the CEO bear the responsibility for the organization's outcomes. Surviving the recent round of layoffs without any clear guidance from Maria or the other leaders has led me to believe that the situation is deteriorating rapidly. Those who were compelled to leave WAG may actually end up in better circumstances than those who chose to stay.

She was the architect of the IT layoffs. I've been with Walgreens for years and she is the worst person I have ever encountered. In all the videos she posts she tells the same stories over and over about being a Christian and about family. She cares nothing of others. She has a horrible attitude and is more noise than action.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marialensing

Just remember for those of you that have been laid off… if you find something where you have influence…. And see “Walgreens” on the resume … Hook up some of your fellow “thrown to the side” humans

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/walgreens-layoffs-deerfield-headquaters-chicago-offices/3149561/

It is unbelievable the amount of talent they have gotten rid of over the past couple of months. They are trading knowledge for inexperienced posers who don’t understand the business and don’t know how to execute. The fake cheerleaders won’t get the job done.

There's been smaller layoffs and execs being pushed out all year, so would not surprise me if there were more coming. Probably not as big as this one that just occured though.

I’m an SM and my store closed 6 months ago. Wouldn’t give me severance and now being treated like a traveling SFL. Closing stores should have the option as stores really are not opening up.

If they lay everyone off they can then give the 9 employees left annual bonus! much logical. Very smart

Blind as well as an internal coworker has made similar mention of possible second rounds in July. Leaders were not aware, however they were also not aware of this round until this week.

Where did you hear this is one of 3? Blind?

I have now heard this is only phase 1 of 3 potential with the next occurring in July. Anyone else hear this with any additional info on if it would be same areas or new? Rumor is still upper management but only a couple people have heard limited info

So let me get this straight. To get any severance you must have worked at wba for 3 years?

wow. That is terrible.

Correction: 3 people could not pick up "all Walgreens gaps" youd need much more than that. Point is we gave it our all and best and here we are...worked more than most...the rest of the people let go ...some of the best, really terrible decision making....would love to know how low performers are still there while others are being let go...

Had HR and my boss set up a sudden meeting Tuesday first thing in the morning...no warning I was let go. Read off a script, I blacked out...wow way to go Walgreens. What a mess.....you have no Supplier Support Team and good luck bc you let our 3 go who picked up all the pieces of all Walgreens gaps...wow just wow. Always had exceed expectations in reviews too, 9 years and we are just numbers...
What did they do, pick out of a hat to make the decisions??

Severance package = must be employed for 3 years to qualify and it’s 2 weeks paid for every year.
We lost a ton of intelligent and motivated team members and I am just devastated. It was announced the same day they started to set up meetings for those who received the unfortunate news. Please be kind and please if you have leads for new opportunities to please share.

Many people from the health division were let go, at all levels. Some people made sense since the business hasnt taken off like it was supposed to. Others were shocking. Many weren’t there for long so didn’t get much, and left good jobs to come to Walgreens. Feel sad for all impacted.

After 12+ years of hard work, dedication, and loyalty my husband just got RIF’d from Walgreens Corporate in Deerfield. They eliminated his entire division. Important projects now up in the air, not to mention other IT initiatives that could jeopardize the organization. What are the decision makers thinking. Very sad. Switching to CVS, no more supporting this company. I hope they go under.

I got laid off from the marketing team. 2 months severance. This place is so unorganized that I feel only relieved to be done.

Any details around severances? I've heard that they are all on "administrative leave" while details are hammered out.

I agree with the assessment on APP. Completely foreseeable and preventable.

I empathize deeply with the affected individuals in the APPs. It is evident to anyone with even a modicum of foresight that the current cuts in the APPs were a foreseeable outcome. This situation directly reflects the inadequate management under the previous APS leadership. Despite encountering numerous challenges in the past decade, APS managed to emerge unharmed. However, instead of maintaining efficiency, the APS leadership made the questionable decision of increasing the headcount within the department. Since the implementation of the "Senior Director and Lead AP Directors" approach, the APS department has been on a downward trajectory. Regrettably, it appears that further reductions may be on the horizon for APS. It is disheartening to acknowledge that this situation has been a long time in the making.

Yeah sev packages are meh, not surprised.

For roles that got cut, it’s not public info. I’m just leaking what I saw based on the smaller portion that hit my desk. But yeah mainly innovation positions, some finance, asset protection, some data sciencey adjacent stuff, and lots of directors.

Regarding severence for those let go, I'd be surprised if Walgreens was generous with health coverage (a large expense). Walgreens couldn't give a cr-p about its employees and will probably be as stingy as possible. I would expect they'll only offer severence "benefits" that cost the company next to nothing.

What roles were cut specifically? I've heard of several but haven't seen a comprehensive list.

Flipped through some of the roles that got cut and was surprised how hard they hit upper/middle management. Lots of directors gone in terms of overall proportion.

IT/Engineering seemed pretty safe minus some of the fluffy “Innovation” titles. CIO is smart to value the nerds ahead of that and middle management.

People getting replaced by ex_walmart staff, Wait for what’s next….CIO is a nerd not a leader….

Wasson paid Pessina to take Walgreens away from him. It was downhill from there. I'd milk the job until laid off. I was let go in 2020 and I can honestly say I'm way happier now. They over pay some. Over work the others. Lay off the wrong people. It's a mess. Now if severance is not on the table, then leave yesterday.

What’s severance package provided with, those who got let off? It’s sad that it has come to this state

Had a 1:1 meeting put on my calendar yesterday with my boss and HR. Told it was my last day working. Total surprise.

Yeah I had my thoughts that the execs were not really focused on running disciplined shop.

The acquisitions were nuts in such short time, burning thru cash. I think it didn't really make sense to acquire, but rather just focus on building out the real estate. Professionals will be happy to shack up next to Walgreens. But the bad expansion did it.

Did not invest in systems/efficiency- could have reduced and streamlined business that way, but relying on old broken duct taped systems.

Walgreens knows how to waste money. The execs do not deserve a bonus this year especially if there is nothing for the grunts who keep the company in tact.

Four people were let go from the Global Insights org within WAG. Two of these individuals were pretty senior (Director, Senior Director). I was incredibly saddened to see how Bala Visalatha handled the meeting today. He was driving in his car as he addressed his org about what was happening. Not a good look.

I was layed off today from this sh---y a-s company. I was an APP, which is part of the asset protection department.

Greg left and made those terrible video screen freezers.

It is disgusting what Walgreens has become! The new CEO is in over her head. This whole mess is because of Gregg Wasson who is a bigger mo--n than the current CEO..Charles Walgreens is rolling in his grave.

All APPs were layed off. This is a position in asset protection

OP here. I unfortunately wasn’t laid off. I will continue to search for a new job on company dime and time. Sc--w Walgreens.

Any one who has been laid off mind listing which team you were on? Or a more broad dept so you can’t be identified?