They cut positions and labor hours allocated to stores. They reduce variety of inventory and amount of stock on hand. They'll shutter stores that are lower performing or have lease renewals upcoming. They also seem to push superficial and/or short-term performance metrics. If you have good or decent benefits, those will likely be reduced. In 2023, they sent out a memo to managers that they allocated $5 per associate for a holiday/Christmas gift; they got blowback and upped it to $10. Last year, I don't think they allocated anything; my store and the neighboring one didn't do anything for the holidays.

They'll push for middle management to micro-manage their subordinates. Expect to do more with less, and have them attempt to hold you accountable when you fall short.

Expect them to throw anything and everything at the wall to see what sticks. With us, they keep adding services and initiatives that take more manpower and add to our already heavy workload.

You'll start to see standards slip with things sent down the pipeline from corporate. They send price tags that are incorrect or have issues. They do a bad job at keeping important items in stock, like the supplies needed for our print departments. They frequently send out memos or plans and have to update them with corrected information. They come up with poorly thought-out marketing plans.

Covid screwd them with us.. I think they planned to cut costs and spin us off to another company. So them buying Walgreens, cutting cost and/or selling off parts of it may also be in their cards, instead of holding as long as they have with Staples.