Posted on 12/05/2006 10:24:07 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Don't get me wrong, Wal-Mart has been great for the economy. I go there fairly often (though I got go to Target more often.) It's just that there's a lot of stuff I wouldn't buy there.
MOST companies don't do that.
My grandfather used to say that to be paid was the ultimate compliment.
The t-shirt idea should be dropped however, merely because it's tasteless.
Regards, Ivan
A guy I worked with just surpassed 25 years of service at a major financial institution (Fortune 100 company). His reward... a plaque and a nice pat on the back. I guess companies don't give out golden watchest anymore.
"but if you are going to give out "awards" why give a t-shirt?"
Actually, it's a polo short but that's splitting hairs.
When we travel in my company, we each get our own room in a nice hotel, like most companies. When Wal-Mart execs travel, they share rooms in economy hotels.
Frugality is the culture of the company.
Isn't the NYT or it's parent company capping wages and laying off workers to make a cheaper work force?
Someone who's profile begins with I'm a 28 year old doesn't have anything of importance to say to anyone who has worked anywhere for 25 years straight.
Shut up.
Walmart is successful and a business. It has no obligation to "take care" of employess other than pay them for services rendered.
Though I won't step foot in the place, the NY Times is pathetic in its snide criticism. I'll bet Pinchy is gonna give out a can of Dak ham to the Slimes employees this year.
When it became the employees job of taking care of the employer.
An eminently bumpable post.
No, those are for people who haven't worked at all in 25 years.
An additional 10% on a big item, like a large screen television or a new laptop for example, on top of the existing 10% discount they already get on all items, that's not too shabby in my book.
I am happy to be employed by a company who treats me well and provides excellent benefits. They "owe" me nothing. I was pleased to get the pin and I wear it with pride.
Hey, at least it only cost them 0.35 cents to make in China. LOL
We live in a very mobile society. Almost anyone can move up to higher paying jobs if they want to do so.
Retail does not pay well and it never has. Why is there even a discussion in the media about what anyone is paying a worker? The market determines that, so end of story. The left wants businesses to disregard the market, which would actually hurt the market and the people who are being paid more than they are worth (i.e., it would encourage those people to stay in low skill jobs).
They price slash every day...no need to miss it!
That's not a very positive attitude for a Wal-Mart door greeter. Did the morning Wal-Mart cheer not brighten your day?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.