Hey, if layoffs are a-comin', do yourself a favor and try to get laid off with severance. It may be a few months, but it's free cash. IF YOU STAY, you will NOT get a raise but your workload will increase. Then they will look to cashier your behind WITHOUT giving you severance. Take the money and run, mo-fo!
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After our long-time STL jumped ship and went to work for the competition a few months ago, we had an emergency all-store meeting to calm down the speculation. They brought in regionals to answer tm questions aka blow smoke. They were very careful with their words, and never said "there won't be more layoffs." They gave the standard vague statements about attrition and combi teams.
What they did explicitly say: "There won't be any more severance. It cost the company too much money, we didn't expect so many people to take the severance." Since then, our store leadership keeps saying stuff like the store won't close for at least a few years, because there's still x-amount of years left on the lease. Not exactly comforting.
Basically, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for severance. It's not going to happen. Attrition means they will eliminate your position and tell you to find another (most likely with a pay cut) if you want to stay with the company. And btw there are no FT positions available. I have already seen them quietly do this to a few supervisors and specialists, and warned a few others that they're next.
one reason to cash out ALL PTO before being laid off is that in some states (please check law in your state) your paid out vacation time/sick time is counted against your unemployment benefits. For example, if your total unemployment eligibility payout by your state is $8000 based on formula, but were paid out $2000 in PTO, your max Unemployment benefits will drop accordingly to $6000 from $8000. Again laws vary from state so please look into. Also, PTO is cashed out only at 75 percent in most states. Last, you may not get laid off, so please calculate the probability before PTO cashout. I'm not a lawyer so am unable to speculate PTO from employees in the event of sale or bankruptcy protection.
Goodbye Specialty. You were awesome.
They already have us raises after the merging of teams. You People are over reacting
i think thats a protected benefit..
Agreed..Take the Severance..100% PTO cashout option next month with enrollment.
what i wanna know is if kroger buys out wfm, will they honor all the PTO team member have accrued? I'd take a leave of absence and burn through all mine asap or cash it out in january just to be safe.
would not be surprised to see people get screwed over - not necessarily on all their earned time off but something will get lost in translation i'm sure of it.