Basing statements such as “employees said managers bonuses are based on payrolls” just indicates that this is a bogus story. Employees have no idea what managers bonuses are based on.
It’s not bogus about the empty shelves...but it is about the causes.
Only a fool would cut the product on their shelves in order to cut staff—or fail to stock items that sell to cut staff.
I’ve heard the same thing, and I work there!