Thread regarding Whole Foods Market Inc. layoffs

I was fired for requesting a mediation.

I was an employee for eight years in the South in the bakery department and I loved my job. Went through five TLs throughout the entire process. Just to try and make this short, the final one I was under wrote me up three times in a period of four months, after only getting written up once during my first year for not clocking out in time for my lunch break... The first was for "insubordination", which was never explained, a customer complaint that was partially my fault for not understanding what they were asking for, and the final for "not following pars", allegedly.

I understand all managers are different and operate how they see fit. This one was a bully. I, and several other TMs, witnessed her yelling at employees, constantly showing up late (by an hour or more), and making employees cry. More than a dozen people quit/changed departments and they all cited her as the reason why. This included an ATL that store leadership begged to come back and work at Whole Foods when they left for another job.

I requested a mediation after she yelled at me in front of other employees for something I wasn't able to do, due to her not providing me with the proper recipes that were sent down from regional, which I had asked for her repeatedly to get for me. I requested a mediation right after. A week goes by and I get called to the office. The STL, my TL , and ATL are all in there. I was separated for not following pars, which I was never provided proof of. The TL had also made fun of me for not realizing I couldn't transfer departments when on final. I was a week away from being off of it. I never got to talk with store leadership about the problems I, and my coworkers, were having in a professional manner. Whenever any of us said something to them, they brushed it off. I immediately lost my health insurance, including the money in my health spending account, plus had the Amazon stock I was awarded taken away, which no one has been able to explain.

I tried to appeal with TM regional support, but nothing came of it. I don't even think they read my statement. The only good thing about this, I guess, is that the TL was demoted a month or so later, then fired not long after...

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| 2402 views | | 13 replies (last March 4, 2020) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+13Gw0fyi

13 replies (most recent on top)

The time for a statement was while you were still employed. Look up the TMS thread thought it was good.
Lawyer won’t help much cause you signed all your write ups.

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Post ID: @8qzq+13Gw0fyi

Lunches have never been paid in our region. You only get a paid 15 break if you work 6+ hours and an unpaid 30 min break.

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Post ID: @7jwf+13Gw0fyi

Wait? You have to clock out for lunch? When I worked there lunches were paid. When did this change?

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Post ID: @5gog+13Gw0fyi

The only way to push back against the predators running this company is to organize with your co-workers. If you're tired of being at will employees then do something about it. There are resources out there to help you stand up against the b—s—.

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Post ID: @3zzv+13Gw0fyi

It's so funny that we can fire anyone for any reason yet still cannot get rid of the incredibly terrible people on our team. It has always been like that. They'd rather wait for someone to quit or point out. Some of these Tms can skate on the thinnest ice for years whereas at any other job they'd be gone immediately. I just don't understand our reluctance to take action and replace people. Maybe someone at store leadership level can enlighten us.
It's rare for someone to get fired for something other than points but I've seen it for violence, falling over drunk on the clock, time theft, and regular theft. Never once for performance or for being a crazy aggressive incompetent, a–hole boss.

I don't know the reason but once we fired our store receiver and he kept texting the STL begging for his job back. I was walking with him and out of frustration he kind of mumbled "quit texting me man, we had to spend months trying to get you fired." I asked him why it takes so long, he just mentioned paperwork and making sure there was no way he could sue for discrimination. Our metro seems to be crazy afraid of discrimination.

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Post ID: @2ngs+13Gw0fyi

Do not bother getting a lawyer. A corporation can fire an employee for any reason that does not fall under any state or federal laws ie: because of ethnicity gender age etc... as an example a company can fire an employee by text without explanation. There is not any defense against an out of control manager. They exist everywhere. the only thing getting a lawyer would do is force W F to make statements under your lawyers questions. They in essence would have to explain your firing , but in terms of winning a lawsuit it would be extremely difficult.

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Post ID: @2iak+13Gw0fyi

They were targeting you for whatever reason. It is so hard to get fired from Whole Foods. We have people on finals for performance we can't get rid of even though they keep doing what they are on final for.

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Post ID: @2ipi+13Gw0fyi

South region is notorious for not playing by the rules. They love to play good cop/bad cop. STL pours out the koolaid while the TLs are out there poisoning the tms . Have never wanted to go into so called leadership because it seems as though you have to become a sociopath..at least in the south region, anyway. Good luck to you. Please take them to court. Do it for all of us who have been brutalized by horrible so called leadership and their gaslighting.

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Post ID: @1qhz+13Gw0fyi

Lawyer up!!!!!

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Post ID: @1yri+13Gw0fyi

WTF is "pars"?

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Post ID: @1yfs+13Gw0fyi

I hope you didn’t sign the corrective action paperwork you were given. And I hope you didn’t sign any paperwork before getting fired because if you did there’s no point of suing. Signing papers usually means you agree with them. But talk to a lawyer.

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Post ID: @1xik+13Gw0fyi

Have your tried suing for wrongful termination? If those folks were so 'by the book' yet did not offer you an opportunity for improvement or PIP in writing, then I do believe you have a case. I'd seek out an attorney, there are those willing to hear your situation, for free, and there are affordable ones out there if you dont have the means. It may be worth it to you to check it out, and it puts them on notice and a blemish against them on bad practices.

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Post ID: @zyx+13Gw0fyi

They are so damn good at gas lighting. Our store TL terrorized people for several years and made up her own rules for things outside of the GIG. So many good people left because of her.

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Post ID: @yds+13Gw0fyi

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