Thread regarding Whole Foods Market Inc. layoffs

Schedule for new tms

Saw this on glass door and wanted to know if it's b.s or not....wfm hires people at under 20 hours a week...so the new tm will not be eligible for prorated health benefits...and then schedules them at 28 hours...does this really go on?

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| 3005 views | | 31 replies (last September 19, 2016) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+JndIecF

31 replies (most recent on top)

hothothot, did you decide to retire? If you don't mind me asking. What are you currently doing in terms of a job if not?

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Post ID: @5rag+JndIecF

To hothothot:

20 years Is a long time...must have been tough to let it go...but here's to ya...sounds like you made it out safe n sound ...best of luck!😉

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Post ID: @5paf+JndIecF

You are correct and about 85 percent of pt new hires never make it past 20 weeks with WFM so not a lot of status changes. My stores turn in the last 8 months was Over 100%. I was in leadership almost 2 decades, the last year everything I had been told by WFM was now untrue., I knew a lot about what changes were happening did I mention that I quit. I just come on here to confirm met decision to leave was the right one.

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Post ID: @5grj+JndIecF

85 percent of the tms hired under pt 20 are working over 20...wow that's a lot of status changes you are doing...do really think anyone believes you on this?

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Post ID: @4fsa+JndIecF

@JndIecF-4zez......global in the house!!... exciting!...any questions guys?...fire away..

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Post ID: @4rxa+JndIecF

this is a hot topic. For members hired at pt (1-19 hours) and those hired at pt20 (20-29 hours) i would say more often than not the Team Members wanted more more hours and got more hours. All employee work hours including pto used are reported to the government and subject to fines each month uninsured if they exceed d that average during certain government defined periods. Employers by law can choose a 3 month or 1 year look back period. It sounds like the one year look back period is being used. During 2016 calendar year a monitoring system was put into place to make sure benefits status was changed after 20 weeks average out of status. This system is for insurance benefits only, not guaranteed hours and is monitored at a global level for compliance taking it out of the control of the store. I can confirm many status' were changed especially from pt to pt20 every 2 weeks and those changes stay in effect for a certain length of time as mandated by the government.

With this change it's not like winning the lottery. The member now gets the option of paying $220 a month premium for themselves and $3465 deductible. This is over $6k before a benefit is paid with the exceptions of items covered under preventative. As you can imagine very few would sign up for this on PT wages as their own government fine and normal healthcare cost would likely be lower than that amount for the year.

Keep in mind, when members were not working enough hours their FT benefits rates were also being removed, which had not happened consistently across the board previously. If a member thinks this isn't being applied equally they could contact their regional team member services team as the federal mandate and the monitoring system are pretty complex.

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Post ID: @4zez+JndIecF

For awhile in the PNW we had status agreement forms that allowed us to work a TM above status for 6 weeks, at which end date we HAD to bring them back down. But really, no one followed up on them, and it was left to the TL to remember. TMs wanted more hours, but FT positions weren't available and it was the company's way of using them by making it look like we were doing them some kind of favor by giving them the opportunity to make more $ for the 6 weeks. This practice hasn't stopped, I just don't see those forms used anymore. However, we can go on this site and blow the whistle on it, while the 'books' are clean. Somehow, sh*t like this always seems to be on the up-and-up just barely enough to not get in trouble. Capitalism, baby!

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Post ID: @4jpo+JndIecF

You're trying to distract with stupid talk of milfs but this particular topic has gotten over a thousand views...do u think they're checking in to see less the clever milf posts?

This topic is red hot cause all the players in the game know that wfm is way out of bounds with this policy of down statusing tms...not one corporate a--hole has stepped up on this site to make a defence...one jerk alluded that tms status are "automatically" upgraded based on service hours tracked over a month...we know this is a balled face lie..the tl's have hit this site and straightend that bs out..come back with some more milf sh-- doosh...

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Post ID: @4hvx+JndIecF

Wfm has really left their flank exposed with this crooked system of tampering with tms status...you tl's have chimed in and explained how it's done and how its (shockingly) "biz as usual at the hole"...f--- that...they can't do that stuff...it's going to bury them...just let it out..let it get out there...that's all you gotta do...when it gets picked up by the media..it's a wrap for this group in charge...they can't survive any more bad press let alone a scandal like this... curtains...flip off the lights..done

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Post ID: @3aoc+JndIecF

Like i said earlier..somebody gotta out them like starbucks got done a few years back..these open availibility schedules and pt schedules are tortursome and unfair labor practices

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Post ID: @3hbr+JndIecF

all the time

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Post ID: @3xke+JndIecF

Dept of labor will audit wfm on this practice and then we'll see what's up...it's a wide spread, established, up and running scam that even a less experienced agent will see right through...it's coming

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Post ID: @3ako+JndIecF

If you want to take down wfm leadership...the tampering of tm' s status...to avoid benefits from kicking in....is the easiest fail safe way to hit the people at the top.. f---ing hard...because it's a wide spread crooked system that leadership knows is straight up wrong.. but they fastidiously maintain it..to cut costs.... it's much much heavier then scale gate... it's going to get them burned bad ...they have their fingers crossed that middle management will continue to be sheep and just keep quiet...it's going to blow though... I'm sure Walter even has an idea who he is going to frag when this sh-- hits the fan...

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Post ID: @2ayk+JndIecF

Ha!!!...some higher ups are trying to change the topic with stupid talk about milfs...very crude diversionary tactics being used here....let's bury these guys with more talk about their corruption...it's what they really don't want to see get out on this site... they know they're in too deep to defend the crooked sh-- they do...

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Post ID: @2kik+JndIecF

Wfm put it out there that it was offering prorated benefits to tms that hit the 20 hour mark...you can look up on Google ..a 2009 article where vp Christina Minardi explains how it works and how wfm is helping it's part timers get bene's... sounds nice but the truth is wfm has systems in place to get people to work between 20 and 30 hours but keep their status at pt 8 ...which screws them out of the opportunity to get the prorated benefits that comes with pt 20....and saves wfm dollars...it's a conspiracy and it should be investigated...you guys as tl's know it's dirty pool...

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Post ID: @2kki+JndIecF

IForas a FT TM I worked 28 to 35 hr a week at a decent pay but I was off For about 7 mouths when I came back I was really watching my hours and seen them drop from 38 to almost 25 HR a week as a FT and had me working 5 days a week on 5 to 6 HR shifts really Grinded my gears I had a talk with my TL at time I said I would need a minimum of 35 hours to be classified as full-time butt in the Whole Foods referendum shows that I only need a minimum of 20 hours to be classified as a full-time employee to be living off 40 hours for 2 weeks taken care of a wife and newborns and what's a primary income for a household 40 hours for 2 weeks was clearly not enough I ened up leaving the company because of a falling out with my TL because of being there for over two and a half years and not getting a raise especially when I have to take care of more of a family now than I did before I found it kind of ridiculous only getting 40 hr For 2 weeks Worth of work was kind of ridiculous especially when they have it spread out across the full week

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Post ID: @2uwp+JndIecF

On the question of schedules..Yes this is very true. I see it happen on a weekly occurrence. At this point upper leadership in my store are scared little peons worried about there own jobs. So with that in mind you can only imagine the B.S that spills out of there mouth. Get it all done, keep it full and robust, serve the Guest with a smile like you enjoy what your doing but do it with one half the staff and we dare you to say something. Cant get it done then you obviously are not working hard enough. Lots of talent has left the building and its only getting worse. Good luck to all.

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Post ID: @2quz+JndIecF

Remember when starbucks got "outed" for their scheduling practices in the new york times??? We need that to happen..and dump this open availibility crap-which really means "torturous" schedules that interfere with your life

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Post ID: @1gbq+JndIecF

You know if we had union representation they wouldn't get away with this! For those that say unions are bad think about it, what's happening now at WF is this something that you as an individual can go talk to management TL and they'd stop doing this? Doubt it. Sure, they may say some pretty words and tell you how we are all in this situation together but, nothing will change they will keep on and on doing this along with the numerous egregious behaviors that you know they do, if not to you you've seen it done to other TM's! Also, if you did go talk to them even in the most professional way possible how many of you would still receive the retaliation treatment? How many of you are experiencing the retaliation treatment now?

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Post ID: @1gzb+JndIecF

This is what I am gathering...wfm hires people at pt 8 but intends on using them up to 28 hrs a week...they are hired at pt 8 so they will be ineligible for any benefit coverage...by scheduling the tm consistently above 20 hours over the course of 8 weeks ...the tms status is now ready to be automatically upgraded to pt 20...wfm has a system in place however to override this by scheduling the tm at 8 hours on week 9...this is done in stores across multiple regions with the consent of gms , vps, and ...yes...people at the very top of the company...the purpose is to cheat folks out of benefits..this is unethical.... weights and measures straightened wfm out....dept of labor can do the same

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Post ID: @1smy+JndIecF

Former TL here and it was common practice to work someone outside of their status (with that TM's approval). We even had a tracker (that tracked the last 8 weeks worth of all hours worked) to make sure the TM's status wouldn't automatically change due to their weekly average. It was sent out weekly by our TMSS. The only time store leadership said anything was when a TM was on the verge of bumping up to the next status.

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Post ID: @1hjb+JndIecF

PT is a min of 1 8hr shift a week. PT20 is a min of 20hrs a week up to 29.99. FT is 40hrs a week. If you average over any of those thresholds, whether the TL intended or not, for over 8 weeks you are bumped into the next status.

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Post ID: @1dkh+JndIecF

Im a TL and yes this happens but it's basically without store leadership approval. It's helps the TL staff the department right and helps the part time team member make extra cash so no one really complains. We do this until store leadership makes us work them under 20. The TLs don't hire to do this but it's the only way to keep conditions good and it buys the team members time to find a full time posting or a better job then is hire again retrain and hire and train over and over again. The wasted money on hiring and retraining is probably much less then just giving benefits

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Post ID: @1hzv+JndIecF

It's used to be that way now it's even more leanyant than that. Using an average of the last six months but won't change status at a certain week. Just red flag Tms to make sure tls start working them into status

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Post ID: @1bxl+JndIecF

This is the type of thing you can really nail your leadership to the wall on...IF...you really want change...this is a black/white cut and dry issue w/out any grey area...this is an unethical practice...and I'm pretty sure that people at the top would say "every employer plays these games" but wfm talks about conscious capitalism and is sanctimonious about it ...and is supposed to operate on a higher level then Joe schmoe grocery...you can't nail leadership to the wall on bad business decisions..as many as they make...its a swirling nebula of could have would have...but if team leaders hit this site and reveal that this practice of basically avoiding paying the benefits that employees deserve ...if this gets out there...well this is an undefendable position and top brass will sack regional senior VP's..to save their hides....SPEAK UP TL's ...now is your chance.....is wholefoods on the level here or is this practice below the belt?.... sounds shady to me...but you're there..not i

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Post ID: @hkt+JndIecF

All the time. Work em as much as you can as long as your average doesn't go overboard. String em along by promising a full time position real soon.

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Post ID: @npp+JndIecF

Does their status officially get changed though?...you are hired at a status..a specific number of hours.....if you work more hours then the hours you were hired to work.. does h.r. change your status?...if you work 10 weeks over 28 hours do you get full time status?

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Post ID: @clw+JndIecF

thats total b.s., TM benefits based on hours are decided according to average of hours worked per week.

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Post ID: @msy+JndIecF

Dude that's so shiesty...and this is probably so the new tm can't get their prorated part time benefits... sad when big "successful" companies offer such pathetic deals to new hires...

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Post ID: @mix+JndIecF

Yes... they schedule ppl for 28 hours for seven weeks, then on week number 8 they drop them again below 20 hours, so they don't have to change their status. The same goes for PT tms are my store....they work 40 for a few weeks, then they drop them to 20 for one week n the cycles starts again.

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Post ID: @psn+JndIecF

And why the hell cant that kronos scheduler make a proper schedule to fit the "business needs".constant mistakes and people still getting clo-pens..how much did blow on that crap

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Post ID: @jpt+JndIecF

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