Walmart vs the other guy

[RodgerS]

I'm not sure what the point of the discussion is. If an employee doesn't like working for a company, they can leave. When gov't steps in and raises the minimum wage and adds other costs like health care, the costs get passed onto the consumer or the company has to cut costs.

We seem to be headed towards socialism, at least a large number of people in this country seem to want that. In that instance, you end up with less goods on the shelves. More government means more red tape for the store to pay for. Socialism is a complete failure.

Very strange. Walmart is not some thing, it is made up of people, employees, manager, owners, suppliers, maintenance people. If Walmart does something "wrong," that is what the court system is for. But treating Walmart like some Demon lurking in the night doesn't make sense to me. There is no need to boycott it in general. If you don't like the store, go somewhere else. If the employees don't like the store, go somewhere else.

Just don't get this victimization attitude, but hey when govt is daddy, there it goes.

 

[kenb1023]

I'm not sure what the point of the discussion is. If an employee doesn't like working for a company, they can leave. When gov't steps in and raises the minimum wage and adds other costs like health care, the costs get passed onto the consumer or the company has to cut costs.

We seem to be headed towards socialism, at least a large number of people in this country seem to want that. In that instance, you end up with less goods on the shelves. More government means more red tape for the store to pay for. Socialism is a complete failure.

Very strange. Walmart is not some thing, it is made up of people, employees, manager, owners, suppliers, maintenance people. If Walmart does something "wrong," that is what the court system is for. But treating Walmart like some Demon lurking in the night doesn't make sense to me. There is no need to boycott it in general. If you don't like the store, go somewhere else. If the employees don't like the store, go somewhere else.

Just don't get this victimization attitude, but hey when govt is daddy, there it goes.

Amen

 

[Frizlefrak]

I'm not sure what the point of the discussion is. If an employee doesn't like working for a company, they can leave. When gov't steps in and raises the minimum wage and adds other costs like health care, the costs get passed onto the consumer or the company has to cut costs.

We seem to be headed towards socialism, at least a large number of people in this country seem to want that. In that instance, you end up with less goods on the shelves. More government means more red tape for the store to pay for. Socialism is a complete failure.

Very strange. Walmart is not some thing, it is made up of people, employees, manager, owners, suppliers, maintenance people. If Walmart does something "wrong," that is what the court system is for. But treating Walmart like some Demon lurking in the night doesn't make sense to me. There is no need to boycott it in general. If you don't like the store, go somewhere else. If the employees don't like the store, go somewhere else.

Just don't get this victimization attitude, but hey when govt is daddy, there it goes.

Thank you.

The "forced overtime" issue, if it actually happened, was an isolated incident by a manager breaking company policy.  I've known a lot of people over the years that have worked for Wal-Mart (again, one is a family member and has been there 25 years)....none of them were ever asked (no less forced) to work off the clock, or to work O/T for regular wages.  The company strictly forbids this. 

Wal-Mart also offers health insurance, 401K, profit sharing, stock purchase, employee discounts, and a whole plethora of other benefits.  Anyone with any ambition at all can start there and work their way up the ladder if they so choose.  This notion that it is some kind of medieval sweatshop is nonsense.  They're subject to more scrutiny largely due to the fact that they are the largest private sector employer in the country....so by sheer numbers there will be more complaints. 

And again, like Rodger said....nobody forces anyone else to work there or shop there.  Everyone is free not to participate if they find Wal-Mart that reprehensible.

 

[John From Detroit]

I'm not sure what the point of the discussion is. If an employee doesn't like working for a company, they can leave. When gov't steps in and raises the minimum wage and adds other costs like health care, the costs get passed onto the consumer or the company has to cut costs.

Now as it happens no less an authority than Doctor Asimov wrote on that issue (In case you wonder he held either an actual, earned. doctorate or an honorary doctorate in more fields than I care to type about (Practically everything) including medicine if I'm not mistaken, but he wrote text books in many fields as well as his mystery and science fiction offerings).

But he wrote on that very concept..  To summarize what he said.. In the 1960's what you say was quite correct, if you did not like your job, tell your boss to shove it and there was another just down the road.

But as I recall he wrote his editorial (Essay) which appared in the magazine bearing his name,  In the 1990's, and by then jobs were becomming scarce.  And that has not improved.. In fact I was just reading of Michigan (Which is where most of my info comes from ) and how Michigan has fewer jobs today than it did when Governor Grandholm left office and how under Governor Snyder Michigan has led the nation in jobs LOST.

So there are more applicants than there are jobs, and it's getting worse and worse.  Just now it is possible to get short term employment that is a bit better than Wal*Mart, but that only lasts till the New Year and then it goes "POOF".

So it's no longer that easy to tell your boss to shove it if you do not like your job.  You need to find the replacement job first.  AND employers are all looking to cut costs as much as possible.

PLUS, there is always the hope you might make it to management, and managers they pay well.. Sadly not many make it though.

Trnding story about a Wal*Mart truck driver and the accident he caused.  I call attention to the paragraph where they mention the truck driver had been awake for over 24 hours.

http://news.yahoo.com/wal-mart-morgan-others-werent-wearing-seatbelts-204115100--finance.html

But of course he had to make the miles or loose his job.

 

[kyjohn]

Lowes and Home Depot both sell riding lawn mowers at a much cheaper price than you can get one at your local lawn mower shop but next time you are at both (the big store and the smaller lawn mower shop) check out how much cheaper the mowers at the big stores are made. The metal is thinner and the quality is not there. I checked them all out when I bought my zero turn riding mower. Same brand and all. Just not made the same. MO

 

[RodgerS]

You are right, the job market is tight, but the issue is only one of timing. I didn't suggest to take the job and shove it, or immediately walk out the door. Just start looking at the same time you are working.

 

[Wendy]

I've read everything Asimov has written and I don't know what the heck you're talking about.

Every store in our town has a "Help Wanted" sign in the window and we're a poor county.

The second largest employer in the county is Walmart. I know a lot of folks who work there and none of them are unhappy.

 

[Frizlefrak]

Funny.....

I have commissioned sales jobs that pay quite well, and I have a hell of a time filling them.  I get a slew of applicants when we post a job....half of them aren't even intelligent enough to fill out the application completely and legibly.  Of the few applicants I get that seem to be reasonably articulate, half won't show up for the interview....then you get the ones that start texting during the interview (they are ordered to get out immediately and don't come back). Then a big chunk of the ones that passed muster so far get "that look" in their eyes when I tell them the job involves nights, weekends, and holidays.....seems everyone wants 9-5 M-F....which doesn't exist any more.  We're talking full time, full benefit package, strong compensation package, friendly atmosphere.....and finding qualified people is like pulling teeth.  Then when I do finally hire someone, half of them don't make it six months....either quit or get fired....usually for lousy attendance.  I guess calling in sick 3 times a month is now considered acceptable.  The bulk of the ones that quit do so because they thought they could say "sure, I'll work any shift" and then demand M-F 9-5 once hired and swear up and down it was promised to them.

There are PLENTY of jobs out there....problem is, our new found entitlement mentality in the good ol' USA means they're too damn good to do the jobs.  Americans are rapidly becoming whiny, sniveling, entitled slugs who want everything handed to them and shudder at the thought of actually having to earn it.

WAL-MART DID NOT CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN.

 

[JoeandJane]

Sorry I asked...

 

[SeilerBird]

Sorry I asked...

You are new here. Walmart is always a hot button issue on this forum. Some people who sleep in the American flag get their panties all in bunch just hearing the name Walmart. If it is not made in the USA then it is total junk. : : :

 

[Frizlefrak]

Sorry I asked...

You're forgiven. 

What the 'bird said.  Wal-Mart posts are a bit like poking a hornet's nest with a stick.  But I'd be willing to be some of the haters on here spend their hard earned duckets at the Mart of Wal occasionally....after all, who's going to know?

 

[rebelsun]

I'm not sure what the point of the discussion is. If an employee doesn't like working for a company, they can leave. When gov't steps in and raises the minimum wage and adds other costs like health care, the costs get passed onto the consumer or the company has to cut costs.

There is no need to boycott it in general. If you don't like the store, go somewhere else. If the employees don't like the store, go somewhere else.

Walmart is the modern day sweatshop.
Modern Labor laws were put into place, and government agencies were established, because of the advent of unions, and the way factories treated their employees, because of the sweatshop conditions that existed at the time.
Unions and Government Regulations are the reason we have a 40 hr. workweek, with overtime after that, days off, holidays, vacation time, retirements, and insurance.  Without these laws, backed by the unions, most employees would still be working 60+ hrs. wk. for slave wages, and no benefits.  The greed of the corporations, which make $$ BILLIONS $$ of dollars per year, off the sweat of their employees, without adequately compensating, or looking out for the general welfare of their employees, or their families, who may be living in squalor, or become sick or injured, then fired, because they can't produce at work, and have no health or disability insurance to protect them, doesn't concern the greedy corporation.  All the while the CEO, COO, President, VP's, and other execs. get 6 and 7 figure pay, bonuses, and Golden Parashutes, for their good work of depriving their employees, of reasonable pay and needed benefits.

 

[rebelsun]

Thank you.

The "forced overtime" issue, if it actually happened, was an isolated incident by a manager breaking company policy.

It's hardly an "isolated incident by a manager breaking company rules"........

Wal-Mart Agrees To Pay Workers Up To $640M For Violations....... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/24/walmart-agrees-to-pay-wor_n_153287.html

U.S. labor board alleges Wal-Mart violated labor law in 14 states....... http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/15/us-walmart-labor-idUSBREA0E1PY20140115

In-House Audit Says Wal-Mart Violated Labor Laws..... http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/13/us/in-house-audit-says-wal-mart-violated-labor-laws.html

Wal-Mart Accused of Violating Workers' Rights..... http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304419104579322990073258798

There are hundreds of other stories about the violations, which are not "isolated" violating workers rights, and labor laws.

 

[RodgerS]

I don't think one has to insult patriotic americans or the american flag to have a rational discussion about this. In fact, my experience is that some people, having lost their argument, need to hurl insults. Particularly those, but not limited to those, whose patriotism takes some other difficult for me to understand form.

 

[RodgerS]

All these "points" take you nowhere beyond your obsession.

 

[RodgerS]

Any time you put a group of humans together, you get the full range of problems and the full range of benefits. Walmart is simply a name of a group of people.

 

[kenb1023]

Every store in our town has a "Help Wanted" sign in the window and we're a poor county.

One reason there are so many jobs open is that we have a growing work force with little to no training or education and the education they do have is substandard in many states, little to no ethics and they want to earn CEO pay from the mail room.  Like the hamburger flipper that wants $15/hr.  Realy?  Give me a break, if you want the $15/hr or more gett he education and drive to get a job that rates $15/hr.

 

[BinaryBob]

You're forgiven. 

What the 'bird said.  Wal-Mart posts are a bit like poking a hornet's nest with a stick.  But I'd be willing to be some of the haters on here spend their hard earned duckets at the Mart of Wal occasionally....after all, who's going to know?

Truth be told.... I was just there picking up some Rotella T6 for my motorcycle. ($5 rebate per gallon)
Whenever I need to find something, an employee is at the ready to help. Not ONE person was singing "no body know da trubba I've seen" while mopping the isles...... Not one. Can you believe that?

 

[bucks2]

John stated: "What's more not only is Wal*mart most likely to loose... They are most likely to be IN SAID COURT (Most sued in labor court of any company) Due to employee abuses." (Bold is my emphasis)

Would you say that they are in court 4 times as much as ANY other employer? The second largest employer in the US (Yum! Brands. KFC, Taco Bell, etc.) employs 523,000 workers. WalMart is #1 with 2.2 million. McDonalds is #3 at 440,000. So please connect the dots for me and explain exactly why you know it's employee abuses. Just for scale the USPS (post office) has approximately 323,000 workers and is #5 on the list. (http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/08/21/the-10-largest-employers-in-america/3/)

It's that old volume thing again.

Ken

 

[Ned]

Any facts asserted without credible references are to be ignored as they are made up.  Credible does not include Fox News or the Onion