Posted on 10/02/2006 8:06:25 AM PDT by gopwinsin04
Wal-Mart, the nations largest private employer, is pushing to create a cheaper, more flexible work force by capping wages, using more part-time workers and scheduling more workers on nights and weekends.
Wal-Mart sent the following confidential memo to managers, instructing them how to answer questions from employees about new pay ranges and wage caps. The document was provided to The New York Times by WakeUpWalMart.com, a union-funded group that is critical of the retailer.
Wal-Mart executives say they have embraced new policies for a large number of their 1.3 million workers to better serve their customers, especially at busy shopping times and point out that competitors like Sears and Target have made some of these moves, too.
But some Wal-Mart workers say the changes are further reducing their already modest incomes and putting a serious strain on their child-rearing and personal lives.
Current and former Wal-Mart workers say some managers have insisted that they make themselves available around the clock, and assert that the company is making changes with an eye to forcing out longtime higher-wage workers to make way for lower-wage part-time employees.
Investment analysts and store managers say Wal-Mart executives have told them the company wants to transform its work force to 40 percent part-time from 20 percent.
Wal-Mart denies it has a goal of 40 percent part-time workers, although company officials say that part-timers now make up 25 percent to 30 percent of workers, up from 20 percent last October.
Sarah Clark, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said the company viewed the changes as a productivity improvement through which we will improve the shopping experience for our customers and make Wal-Mart a better place to work for our associates, as Wal-Mart refers to its employees.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
"Why don't you instead focus on the reduction of regulation and taxes in your state and country so that industry can be more competitive?"
What a crock! Regulations could go away and taxes could go to zero, or hey, maybe the government can pay a company to come to a particular state and it would not solve the competitiveness issue. Managers today only care about the next quarter and their bonuses, and until that changes, nothing will improve.
>>>So your solution is to kill that last remaining employer? LMFAO. >>>
Nope, my solution is to penalize Walmart if the majority of it's employees are on the Medicaid that my taxes pay. Walmart can make record profits, but I have to pay for it's employees medicine? I don't think so.
Exactly, I will be across the street at Target shopping, thank you very much!
>>>What a crock! Regulations could go away and taxes could go to zero, or hey, maybe the government can pay a company to come to a particular state and it would not solve the competitiveness issue. Managers today only care about the next quarter and their bonuses, and until that changes, nothing will improve.>>>
Bravo!! My point entirely. Communities are stake here.
BINGO
I was one of those older, higher paid workers.
I got the can (as did a lot of other folks), the CEO got a million dollar bonus.
But least I have not had to go to work at WallyMart.
Believe me, I am paying attention. You have already swallowed the leftist claim that the majority of WalMart employees are on Medicare, so it just would follow you are blaming walmart for the lack of a competitive jobs market in your area.
Exactly. Even public school districts have been doing this. Where's the Democratic outrage at that?
We have a free-market economy. WalMart is not obligated in any way to provide health insurance for their workers; no business is. As a publicy-traded company, WalMart's primary fiduciary obligation is to their owners, the shareholders. If WalMart can recruit and retain an adequate workforce without offering medical benefits, so be it. No one is forced to work for WalMart, and if employees don't like the wages, benefits or working conditions, they are free to seek employment elsewhere at any time.
If you've got a problem with low income workers being on Medicaid, your beef is with the politicians who write the entitlement laws, not with WalMart.
Personally, I have a beef with the politicians and with WalMart employees who don't prepare themselves to compete in our economy and then complain about their situation. Note to whining WalMart employees (not all, just the whiners): If you want more money, more time off, better benefits and better working conditions, GET AN EDUCATION and get qualified for a better job. With 4.7% unemployment, better jobs are out there waiting for qualified employees.
Heres a clue: They all do it !!!!!!!!! So quit picking
on poor old Wal-mart....friend of the down and out bargain
hunters..besides..I kinda like their style,,friendly,
smiling, helpful, and gives the best price... Jake
Amen.
>>>Believe me, I am paying attention. You have already swallowed the leftist claim that the majority of WalMart employees are on Medicare, so it just would follow you are blaming walmart for the lack of a competitive jobs market in your area.>>>
I am not blaming Walmart for the lack of competitive jobs...
oh forget it. When you can follow a conversation, get back to me.
= zero credibility.
Oh, no! They really have to stop fencing in our rural areas so that people can't seek jobs elsewhere! (sarcasm)
Hubby and I have moved 5 times in 16 years for a better job. Nobody is chained to a praticluar part of the country, and some areas most definitely have a better employment outlook than others. Nobody is forced to work for WalMart.
>>>With 4.7% unemployment, better jobs are out there waiting for qualified employees.>>>
Umm ok. And YOU have fallen into the rightthinking idea that just because the umemployment rate is 4.7, that these are jobs that pay enough to be OFF the government welfare system.
praticluar=particular (sigh)
"We have a free-market economy. ...bla bla"
I would agree with your post, but his is happening across the board regardless of the business and education status of its employees. I don't agree with the democratic/liberal solutions, but at least they are not in denial with regards to the problems, be it retirement, healthcare, education, etc.
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