Thread regarding Barnes & Noble layoffs

"I was not a lazy, unmotivated ASM. Twelve years of positive reviews, no previous corrective actions and a fast track IP process where I was told yes you are “improving “ but it’s just not enough..."

I should like to hear your full story, sir or ma'am. Or, at least, as much as you're willing to share. With all my years at BN, I knew more than a few who got a raw deal; I got by because of me being able to play the game--not happily, but because I was afraid of getting fired--a little bit of Harry Flashman-like self-preservation, and a lot of luck.

As I said, I should like to hear your story.

I was not a lazy, unmotivated ASM. Twelve years of positive reviews, no previous corrective actions and a fast track IP process where I was told yes you are “improving “ but it’s just not enough...

When IP’s are written on manager computer Every manager in the building has access to that information.

This is the thing I keep reiterating: I've been here a LONG TIME (I won't specify how long but let's just say it was before the stock price peaked) and I've heard lots of conflicting stories about store and district management styles. I've witnessed it, myself, and let me tell you, this company IS NOT consistent.

So you really can have both. Top secret IPs that no one ever hears about, and basically public IPs bandied about at morning meetings. It really depends on who is the captain of the ship.

At our Monday morning Mgr meeting, the SM would go over everyone on an IP. Including management.

Wow. Attack mode people. A MBDM - market business development manager has no control over people in the store. As far as knowing the ASMs are on IP’s, that role reports to the DM. That role also has to talk to the SM’s on a weekly basis, and, also has to be in each of their stores once a week. When you’re in the many calls, in that many stores, and you read all the emails, you hear and see things! Nevermind the fact, some people are just open about being on one. Good grief.

Thanks for noticing that the Receiving Mgr was an important part of running a successful, organized store. ( which is no longer the case) when I was let go last year I actually got phone calls from those who worked for me, asking how to do this, “where was that”. I said “ask the SM or ASM” & was told “they told me to call you”.

BN is like a lot of corporate America--they love the alphabet soup. When things get rough, just come up with a new acronym and spread the blame around.

Interesting thought. I’m a MBDM and have 4 stores. In each of my 4 stores, the ASM is on an IP. In one of the stores the SM is on an IP. Nothing would surprise me at this point!!

So, this CRM--or whatever they call the CRMs now--knows who is on an IP and who isn't? I never knew a CRM--oops, I mean an MBDM--who knew anything but what their personal sales were in the store. I knew a lot of what was going on in my district--far more than I should, and was comfortable about knowing--and I didn't know who was on an IP, unless it was somebody in my store and they were crying on my shoulder.

Honestly, the only thing I know is true on this site is what I posted myself. So, I don't know if this MBDM is somebody who goes drinking with their DM or some other clown. All I know is that when an IP gets written, it's almost sacredly secret. Only HR, the people who write the IP, and the poor goof who gets the IP, knows it's written. And when the axe falls, there's not a whole lot of stuff said about it.

So, if you're an ASM under IP, get your resume together yesterday. And good luck to you, brother or sister.

Sounds like somebody didn’t know what all the stupid letter. “Titles“are.

Sounds like Somebody saw that it ended with DM and thought it was a district manager.

I agree with them, that the district manager should be fired if he has that many of his management team on IP’s. He’s obviously not a good “leader”.

Guys, an MBDM is a "Market Business Development Manager." It's a CBDM over multiple stores. They don't have the power to write up/develop SMs and ASMs.

Interesting thought. I’m a MBDM and have 4 stores. In each of my 4 stores, the ASM is on an IP. In one of the stores the SM is on an IP. Nothing would surprise me at this point!!

WHAT?!?!

You should be the first one fired.

Every one of your assistant managers is on an IP?

And one of your four managers is on an IP?

Wow !

Take some responsibility for this.

You obviously have no control over your territory.

?????

Interesting thought. I’m a MBDM and have 4 stores. In each of my 4 stores, the ASM is on an IP. In one of the stores the SM is on an IP. Nothing would surprise me at this point!!

????

And they haven’t fired you yet? You are no leader. But fire all the career people who were doing their job. No wonder BN is now a joke in the business world. And,Any companies I can’t give a customer a bag doesn’t deserve their business

“Interesting thought. I’m a MBDM and have 4 stores. In each of my 4 stores, the ASM is on an IP. In one of the stores the SM is on an IP. Nothing would surprise me at this point!!“

I’m sorry but , in ALL your stores ?!

You’re part of the problem!

have a DM in TN that doesn’t hold management accountable. Blames everyone but the management team.since last February,NOW they know who did what.

I left because the management just delegate all kinds of projects to part-timers and then gets mad at them when we didn’t have enough time to do them, sales weren’t up, memberships down, bunch of customer complaints to deal with all day long . All of you with upper management got rid of the wrong people and I think now you know it. Again, all your Stores have a person of management on an IP? You must not know everything is going to close down, to except that kind of behavior. It’s a reflection on you as well.

Interesting thought. I’m a MBDM and have 4 stores. In each of my 4 stores, the ASM is on an IP. In one of the stores the SM is on an IP. Nothing would surprise me at this point!!

Funny how before February 2018, it was all about productivity and having boxes opened & on carts& shelved in 24hrs.

Now?! No one gives a damn.

Magazines are the worst. Customers always looking for new issue that’s sitting in a box, in the messy , unorganized back. Lost a LOT of customers.

Couldn’t agree more. The Rec Mgr in my store often would Mgr on duty. Worked really hard , making sure all boxes were opened, books got on carts correctly. Motivated the shelvers. Didn’t leave until everything was done. Would clear return shelves really fast. Pulled returns, did zone maintenance. He was awesome. The canned him. Put the worst part timers back there to help. New releases , strict on sale titles still in boxes come Tuesday. Receiving has been a mess for a year now. BN cut their own throats with that stupid decision!

The store I worked at has one of the laziest , unmotivated , uninformed and incompetent ASMs I have ever worked for. I always believed the decision this a*backwards company made to get rid of their receivers instead of the worst of the 2 ASMs was their biggest mistake seeing as that most of the receivers could open the store. The receivers did so much more in the stores than just receive anyway. It doesn't take alot of time to open, it is just that the managers doing it did not do it in a timely manner.....gotta check their phones, play a game on their phone and anything else except what they are suppose to doing. Hindsight is a bith and this company is paying for it. You all better jump while you can.