Is this rhetorical? Yes they will. Once or twice a year you can guarantee. Watch your backs.
15 replies (most recent on top)
I expect more with the way sales have started out
To answer the question succinctly with another question...Is Water Wet? Therein is the answer to thine question of layoffs.
Ah come on you mean 8 conversations a day that average 3 or 4 minutes is not worth the expense. Inside reps bring less than 2 hours a day if value and that’s being generous. Look at the stats. Why are we still engaging this business model. These people are not inside sellers. Inside sellers dial all day and close business this is not happening. That’s why the accts continue to be won again over and over. Guess what. They aren’t won catching an order is not a win and no one wants to take that call. Listen to some calls SLT. More damage is being done with so many of these conversations. Better ramp up your marketing digital strategy. Oh that’s right you just let the whole department go.
The compensation comment for inside sales is bang on. Reps have few real conversations and essentially babysit customers who have been assigned to them. Emails counted as contacts and any amount of real sales activity or result’s is pretty much non-existent. There is very little productivity that is actually driving sales. Bill to’s and ship to’s give the illusion of driving business. I know, I was there for a long time.
And majority of work for the outside is done over the phone and over email so why such a swing in comp comparing outside and inside?
That compensation comment for inside is ridiculous. What the outside is paid is at min 50 percent higher and up, and the categories are higher too. Inside has been under compensated far too long.
One of the biggest issues is the amount of money being paid to insides sales and leadership. There is absolutely no way that a team manger managing a team of 15 call centre sales reps should be making six figures plus. They also throw around AVP roles likes candy paying them even more money for being responsible for less than 50 people. How their pay scales got so out of whack is unreal.
Couldn’t agree more- this vertical strategy is causing the company to lose money, customers and now more layoffs. Sales Leadership within all of Mid-Market is at an all time low. I’m guessing that the majority of these roles will continue to be cut and or / outsourced. Such a shame as how fast the Org has been decimated in just a few short months.
The sales leadership for inside and outside is at an all time low. No clue what they are doing and no accountability. Many are completely unengaged and inept at their jobs. Don’t blame the reps, leaders need to lead, managers need to manage and the strategy is one thing but systems processes and tools are still well behind the times. Data is a mess. This place is a joke. But keep blaming the people who are talking to the customers. You just fired all of your marketing team so good luck with driving sales if you lay off more reps. Look in the mirror corporate, continue to cut those that care and know how to drive sales and culture and see what that does to your top line and your engagement scores. Your strategy department is incompetent.
I work very closely with higher ups in Framingham.
There is a lot of panic about some of the new roles created after the re-org in November. Not going to say who exactly, but leadership is very upset with inside sales - they are just not productive and are costing a lot of money.
If productivity does not pick up by Q2 there will absolutely be more "reorganizing" within inside sales.
I don't mean to cause panic, but they are assessing whether or not it's cheaper to pay folks in Lat-am/Philippines too cold actually do the job.
Food for thought. Hopefully the sales teams get their s#!t together soon...
While no one really knows, there is absolutely no reason to think that this multi-year trend will not continue. The business is just not doing well. When a lay-off a large percentage of your sales team takes place, that is merely the beginning of the end. Businesses and consumers have too many choices and Staples retails stores are ghost towns. I would love to see this turn around but if I had to bet the farm, I know where I would put my money.
A poster in another thread said, “take control of your destiny”. I couldn’t agree more. It really is that simple. So many great jobs that pay well. Update your resume and started applying. Many are waiting on severance, but I chose to leave so my gears stayed oiled. It’s also easier and less stressful to look for a job while you are still employed. Please, save yourselves. It’s not worth the daily guessing game. Praying for everyone. 🙏🏾
If you work for Staples you will continue to worry. That’s just the facts. Layoffs happen every year throughout the year and biggest ones happen in Nov before start of new year. Year over year over year. History will continue to repeat and if you are a low performer you will get terminated if your mgr is competent. If not fly under radar and ride the Staples wave which will ultimately be a wipeout for all. Only a few will survive the Tsunami.
Should we be worried about this week?