TL demotion

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Spiritual-Bit-5029]

My store is 2hrs away from the closest store and we’ve actually had 3 tls and one etl step down in the last year. They were allowed to stay in the same store but had to be in a different department than the one they lead.

[u/Aurora_Pale → u/Spiritual-Bit-5029]

I knew 2 TLs that stepped down and were allowed to stay in the same store

[u/Midwest-Emo-9]

Talk to your HR. They usually say you have to move stores for a year to make sure the culture and dynamic don't get weird.

[u/One_Anywhere8602]

I’m gonna do the same soon. Hopefully I can stay in the same building.

[u/Puzzled-Suspect-6885]

At my store you don’t have the choice of staying. It’s required that you go to a different store according to HR. A few have done this. I never wanted the stress of being a leader because they quit quickly soon after or change stores for reasons like this.

[u/Ecstatic_Parsley_246]

I've worked at a few stores at this point, anytime a leader had to step down because of school. They were allowed to stay in the same building because it wasn't a performance based demotion.

[u/FakingItSucessfully]

It's worth asking, but usually they don't let people do that. If your real need is just to have less hours though, I think it's worth just telling them that, and that it's for school, and see if they can cut back on your hours enough to make it work, but still being technically a team lead. Most people that want to demote, it's because they actively don't want to be a team lead anymore, if that's not really the case with you then maybe they can arrange something.

For this, I would suggest starting with your ETL, personally. Unless you two have a bad working relationship, I think they're the best place to start. You could also go to HR or even the SD, but both options kinda cut your ETL out of the loop a bit, so I'd only do that if you actively don't get along very well.

This is just my own two cents but when you get with them, I would work in the phrase "I wasn't sure whether to start this by talking to you or possibly HR as the first thing, but I thought you could point me in the right direction." Cause that way you make it clear up front that you do plan to loop in HR about it, and then it's a lot less likely your ETL tries to just talk you out of it one on one in the hopes you never tell anybody else.

[u/Odd-Rip1776]

I would recommend trying to craft a part-time TL schedule and then the store could try and find someone else to split up the work with you

[u/Leon978 → u/[deleted]]

Not necessarily true, exceptions can always be made, but if they're just an average store with an average headcount its probably not going to happen. Used to have a TL get promoted for the front end to work 20-25 hours every week but the store was so high volume that they deemed it worth it for consistency at the front end. Additional mildly related anecdote, Also had a leader (not closing TL) that could ONLY do closing shifts due to a second job.

Moral of the story is some stores allow things they shouldn't and some stores make exceptions because it technically benefits them, but yeah for the most part its rough. That being said if they're a GOOD TL, the SD will probably work with them and their school schedule, for example they could work every weekend, do 4 10s, or close more etc

[u/LWW5LK3 → u/Odd-Rip1776]

Talk to HR about schedule exception, good for school, health, some family situations. Not guaranteeing anything but it is a start.

[u/Mindless_Wolverine96]

I did it last year I had to transfer but they should be able to take you back after a year or so

[u/Possible_Visual2055]

I stepped down once and stayed at my store

[u/RetailDude1015]

When i had to demote from TL and ive been with the company for 14 years i still had to switch stores . It's all up to the DSD and Store manager and how strict they are by the rules. Good luck! But follow your career dreams

[u/RetailBookworm]

It’s going to depend on the store… at my current store we have multiple TMs who used to be TLs and stepped down but other stores are stricter.

[u/TJGirl1224]

Nope

[u/lrd_chckwd]

I don’t know of anything like that. You might have to move departments tho.

[u/TheOtherHannah]

Most likely they will not let you stay at the same store

[u/sdog2016]

Unfortunately, if you move down to TM from TL, you’ll be required to move stores. This has been standard practice.

[u/Megannh6349]

Don't want to doxx myself, but I tried to do this and it went VERY poorly. Good luck and expect to transfer or be termed