Wal Mart Says Thank You to Workers (Polo T-Shirt for 20 Years Service)

NY Times ^ | 12/4/06 | Stephen Greenhouse

[meg88]

Faced with public demonstrations of discontent by its employees, Wal-Mart Stores has developed a wide-ranging new program intended to show that it appreciates its 1.3 million workers in the US and to encourage them to air their grievances.

As part of the effort, Wal-Mart managers at 4,000 stores will meet with 10 rank-and-file workers every week and extend an additional 10 percent discount on a single item during the holidays to all its employees, beyond the normal 10 percent employee discount.

The program, described in an internal company document, was created during a volatile six months period, starting when the company instituted a set of sweeping changes in how it managed its workers.

Over that time, Wal-Mart has sought to create a cheaper, more flexible labor force by capping wages, using more part-time employees, scheduling more workers at nights and weekends, and cracking down on unexcused days off.

The policies angered many long-time employees, who complained that the changes would reduce their pay and disrupt their families’ lives. Workers even staged small rallies in Nitro, W. Va., and Hialeah Gardens, Fla., the only such protests in recent memory.

The portion of the new outreach program called “Associates Out in Front” is described in company documents as a way for Wal-Mart to show workers “that we do appreciate you and that we have an ongoing commitment to listening to and addressing your concerns.”

The program includes several new perks “as a way of saying thank you” to workers, like a special polo shirt after 20 years of service and a “premium holiday,” when Wal-Mart pays a portion of health insurance premiums for covered employees. Sarah Clark, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said the program was a “a more formalized, contemporary approach” to communicating with and collecting feedback from its fast-growing work force.

[Lunatic Fringe]

...and extend an additional 10 percent discount on a single item during the holidays

Wow. They really give till it hurts.

[AUJenn]

A t-shirt for 20 years of service? Yippee.

[Chi-townChief]

Consider the source.

[beyond the sea]

Wal Mart Says Thank You to Workers (Polo T-Shirt for 20 Years Service)

Long Underwear Set for their 30 Years......

[L98Fiero]

Let's not forget the paycheck every two weeks. Service, my butt. It's a job.

[FloridianBushFan]

But that is on top of the normal 10% discount they normally get. Yea yea.

I love Walmart but I do think they could do a better job of taking care of their employees.

[misterrob]

Wal-Mart Sucks. They provide employment and access to goods and services at cheap prices!!!!

How dare they!!!!!

[L98Fiero]

"Consider the source."

When it comes to a Wal-Mart bash? No way!! When you want to see FR mirror DU, talk about Wal-Mart or cops.

[Gaffer]

It's better than what I got from my employer. One year, I got a cassette tape of the College Choir singing Christmas Carols. In my 25 years plus, this is the ONLY thing I have ever received from this place other than a paycheck. Before I started there the company I worked for gave me a coupon for a Turkey, which is the best so far...

[AUJenn]

Well obviously you get a paycheck, but if you are going to give out "awards" why give a t-shirt?

[L98Fiero]

"I love Walmart but I do think they could do a better job of taking care of their employees."

What!?!?! These people are not babies! Since when is it an employer's obligation to "take care of" it's employees? If a company DOES have that obligation, I'm suing everyone I've ever worked for.

[Sir Gawain]

Someone that works at Wal-Mart for 25 years should get a "Life's Loser" button.

[nmh]

"Over that time, Wal-Mart has sought to create a cheaper, more flexible labor force by capping wages, using more part-time employees, scheduling more workers at nights and weekends, and cracking down on unexcused days off."

That's what most PROFITABLE companies are doing. The ONLY employer who DOES NOT do THAT is the GOVERNMENT.

"The policies angered many long-time employees, who complained that the changes would reduce their pay and disrupt their families’ lives. Workers even staged small rallies in Nitro, W. Va., and Hialeah Gardens, Fla., the only such protests in recent memory. "

Gee, I didn't know a COMPANY should ACCOMODATE the WORKER! I thought the WORKER was supposed to ACCOMODATE the EMPLOYER!

Face it, NOTHING WALMART does will EVER make the NYT happy. They are AGAINST CAPITALISTIC, Christian oriented companies.

BTW, the SAME things:

"... create a cheaper, more flexible labor force by capping wages, using more part-time employees, scheduling more workers at nights and weekends, and cracking down on unexcused days off."

happen at K-Mart, Target, Cosco etc. but when WALMART does it ... all hell brakes loose.

[Corin Stormhands]

My wife worked in the accounting office at our local Wal-Mart for a couple of years. They treated her very well.

I miss that 10% discount.

[meg88]

Didn't the managers used to recieve Wal Mart stock buy ins?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I love Walmart but I do think they could do a better job of taking care of their employees.

Maybe you should open your own chain of stores and pay people what you think they deserve to be paid.

[rightinthemiddle]

Was there a note that says?:

"We realize you've chosen to work here for 20 years and hated every minute of it. We'd like to commemorate your misery with this polo shirt. When you reach 30 years of service, we will give you the keys to the imaginary shackles that kept you chained to this horrible job."

[Fierce Allegiance]

Nobbody is forced to work at Walmart.

[tx_eggman]

Consider the source.

Thank you ... I saw NYT and quit reading.