Great deal at Wal-Mart

[Hunter Dug]

There are goods and bads in all situatons.  But you as people make your own choices, that determine your good and bad situations.    America gives you choice, the choices YOU make determine your future, health and welfare. The choice is all yours. Work at Wal-mart with no benifits that is your choice, buy a 700 ADL at wal-mart or at Cabela's that is your choice.  As you can see its all your choice.  Me I am going to keep my wallet as full as possible while making my choices.

[remington300mag]

The employees don't get paid enough or don't get a good health care plan? If that is true, then why are so many people working there? If the employees are not satisfied with the pay/benefits, they are free to find a job elsewhere.

...unless you realize that those people are more or less driven to working places like that, because walmart drove all the competition(that probably offered health benefits or good pay) out of an area.

out in this area at least, walmart doesn't have better prices on anything that you can buy at any other local store.  the problem is that they've driven out all the niche retailers(think sporting goods) so that they're the only option on the coast.

Really? Do most retailers pay that much more than Wal Mart and provide health insurance for their employees? (Serious question, I honestly do not know)

Bobcat,

I worked at Target for 7 years...I will say that they start people out at minimum wage just like wal-mart....but they also give yearly raises....unlike Wal-mart, the raises are pretty big....being a department manager I started low at 10/hr....but after 6 years I was making over 17/hr....I don't think people at wal-mart for 20 years make that much! Also, Target's benefits were pretty good....a basic 80/20, that cost me about 150 a month for the whole family!

[rasbo]

walmart don't have benefits???I find that funny,they have medical dental everything else a company has.Sure you start out with a low wage,but so what.Show some incentive and you will make good money.Retail is a bitch to work...wally world in my mind isn't the sporting goods store of my choice,so they wont run others off..They also pay for you to come up in the company on company time by testing..What retail outlet doesn't have China's products,my hat from cabelas says Sri Lanka.how much money are all those collage grads making?If ya don't like wally world don't shop there,they wont even notice you don't.heck close down all those ratty stores we need more unemployed people out there..

[rasbo]

The employees don't get paid enough or don't get a good health care plan? If that is true, then why are so many people working there? If the employees are not satisfied with the pay/benefits, they are free to find a job elsewhere.

...unless you realize that those people are more or less driven to working places like that, because walmart drove all the competition(that probably offered health benefits or good pay) out of an area.

out in this area at least, walmart doesn't have better prices on anything that you can buy at any other local store.  the problem is that they've driven out all the niche retailers(think sporting goods) so that they're the only option on the coast.

Really? Do most retailers pay that much more than Wal Mart and provide health insurance for their employees? (Serious question, I honestly do not know)

Bobcat,

I worked at Target for 7 years...I will say that they start people out at minimum wage just like wal-mart....but they also give yearly raises....unlike Wal-mart, the raises are pretty big....being a department manager I started low at 10/hr....but after 6 years I was making over 17/hr....I don't think people at wal-mart for 20 years make that much! Also, Target's benefits were pretty good....a basic 80/20, that cost me about 150 a month for the whole family!

wrong,walmart gives yearly raises,my wife got two this year.people at walmart that have been there for twenty yrs make 20 plus.They only make that much cause they choose not to rise up the chain.they have problems like any big business.

[HntnFsh]

I think most of you are missing my point. Wal-mart is not bad because they are so big. I love the idea that a company can grow that large. The problem I have is they pay minimum wage (not a huge issue either) and ENCOURAGE THEIR WORKERS TO GO APPLY FOR STATE ASSISTANCE in the form of food stamps and medical insurance. So when you factor that in are you really saving money? as big and profitable as they are would it really hurt to bump the wages up enough so people who work there could afford to live? I mean if you are making Billions per year is going to hurt if you have a couple million less and happier employees?

Brandon

Do you have anything to back that up with? Cause its not what I hear from several of their employees.

[HntnFsh]

Hyde thats the same reason i tend not to shop there regularly... I have gone there several times for 200rds of trap rounds to save some $$$ and it takes me over a half an hour! the reality is it saved me like a couple of bucks... I try not to go there unless i'm gona dump some cash...

Pretty sweet when a guy can make(save) $400 an hour standing in line for 1/2 an hour.

[robodad]

I don't think people at wal-mart for 20 years make that much!

Wrong !! I know at least 6 people (including some family members) that have been there for 15 years (this November) and make well over $20/hr so you can stop "thinking" and stfu until you know what your talking about !!

WM is a huge business, and treat their employees very well, if there are some that got screwed its likely their fault or have no ambition to move up in the pay scale then they complain and those are the ones you hear about, no different then any other giant corporation.

[luvtohnt]

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Corporate_Welfare/WalMart_Welfare.html
http://www.ctnela.org/blog?article=4
http://www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com/walmart-unethical-business-practices
http://hubpages.com/hub/Walmarts-pros--cons
http://www.walmartmovie.com/facts.php
http://walmartwatch.com/docs/electeds/GOP_Action_on_Wal-Mart_and_Health_Care.pdf
http://www.campusprogress.org/articles/ten_things_wal-mart_doesnt_want_you_to_know

Do you have anything to back that up with? Cause its not what I hear from several of their employees.

Here are a few sources for you.

After reading Run's post I would be scared to buy an ADL there!!

Brandon

[luvtohnt]

Wrong !! I know at least 6 people (including some family members) that have been there for 15 years (this November) and make well over $20/hr so you can stop "thinking" and stfu until you know what your talking about !!

I still find it hard to believe. Not saying you are stretching the truth, but a family aquaintance is a department manager at walmart and she does not even make $20/hour so why would they pay an associate that much. Or are the people you know department managers or a higher position?

Brandon

[robodad]

Wrong !! I know at least 6 people (including some family members) that have been there for 15 years (this November) and make well over $20/hr so you can stop "thinking" and stfu until you know what your talking about !!

I still find it hard to believe. Not saying you are stretching the truth, but a family aquaintance is a department manager at walmart and she does not even make $20/hour so why would they pay an associate that much. Or are the people you know department managers or a higher position?

Brandon

They all started as associates where most folks start then worked their way into the back office positions and are the ones actually running the day to day things that keep the store open. They worked their way up past the department manager positions and into running the cash office, claims office, are in charge of loading and unloading freight, one member goes all over the country to help set up new Walmarts, he has been to Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii, several places in Washington, and is there for 6 weeks or so helping get the place up and running, and a few other positions that I don't remember what they call them.

That said, no one is going to hold their hand, you have to have the ambition to succede and if you don't........DON"T blame the company for you being a lazy azz !!!

[luvtohnt]

These discussions are always great because people can learn so much. so Walmart is not as bad as they have been made out to sound. I have always wondered why people still work there if it is so bad, but on the other hand maybe being employeed is better than not in their case. I still have an issue with them encouraging their associates to seek state assistance though. Thanks for all the info Robodad.

Brandon

[robodad]

These discussions are always great because people can learn so much. so Walmart is not as bad as they have been made out to sound. I have always wondered why people still work there if it is so bad, but on the other hand maybe being employeed is better than not in their case. I still have an issue with them encouraging their associates to seek state assistance though. Thanks for all the info Robodad.

Brandon

There will always be folks that look to have everything handed to them and when its not they complain and you know the saying (the squeeky wheel...) so in every big company there will be bad apples and perhaps some times there are bad managers that treat an employee bad or there are "relationships" that occur inside a company that get broke off then you have a bad situation with rumors and back stabbing etc... especially in the case of managers dating associates etc... so the drama can be fierce at times and sometimes things occur because of these bad apples which looks bad for the company when in reality its the employees fault. There are policies in place to keep that stuff from happening but this world wouldn't be anything without drama, just look at hollywood !!

As for state assistance, those employees likely had no ambition to move up in the company, I'd like to see the evaluations of these people that complain and see how bad they are !!

[Practical Approach]

Straight off Walmarts webpage.

Benefits
Apply For a CareerWhen you become a Walmart associate, you can take advantage of a variety of benefits for you and your family, including:

Health & Wellness Benefits
•Comprehensive Medical Coverage with no lifetime maximum
◦80% coverage for eligible services
◦Preventive care includes an annual checkup for each covered family member, immunizations for children up to age 18, and more
◦Pharmacy benefits coverage includes $4 generics, brand name and specialty drugs
◦Ask Mayo Clinic Nurse Line – a free, confidential 24-hour nurse line
◦Life with Baby Maternity Program is a free voluntary wellness program to help from pre-conception through early child development with your own registered nurse
•Dental Insurance
•Resources For Living® -- a confidential counseling and health information service that’s free to all associates. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
•Business Travel Accident Insurance
•Associate Eyewear Program
•Company-paid life insurance and Business Travel Accident insurance
•Financial planning guidance and will preparation
•Optional life and dependent life insurance
•Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
•Critical illness and accident insurance
•Short- and long-term disability coverage
•Illness Protection (sick time)
Financial Benefits
•Associate Stock Purchase Plan with a company match of 15% up to the first $1,800 purchased each Plan year
•Retirement Account Rollover
•Associate Discounts provides all associates have access to more than 250 discounts on good and services, including movie tickets, sports entertainment, fitness center memberships and more
•Bereavement and Jury Duty Time-off
•Military Differential Pay
•Associate Discount Card for Walmart associates, their spouses and dependents. Receive a 10% discount on regular priced general merchandise and fresh produce purchased at a Walmart store.
•Sam’s Club Associate memberships for Sam’s Club associates
•Paid Holidays, Vacation Time and Personal Time
•Walmart Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan

[Special T]

How many of you have been to a 3rd world S-hole? Mexico is as close as most people get and that is only the tourist places... well I've been in the cheep part of town and I've been to China... Do any of you realize how far 30-50cents and hour goes in those places? I have a buddy that exports scrap cast to India.. he sells to a guy that pays people $5bucks a day to break iron with a hammer and chisel... he as people WAITING IN LINE to come work for him? So is the guy in India a  for paying that? $5 don't pay anything here but there it is a pretty good wage for non skilled workers... If you live in a mud hut with no running water with your whole family and on the verge of sickness and starvation an someone will pay you 5 bucks a day and that can feed the whole family, WTF do you think you would do?  I hate it when someone says stuff isn't "FAIR" Life isn't fair! Fair is when 2 people agree to do something... if you don't think its fair don't agree and walk... If you HAVE to do something because of your situation, well then you either need to change your situation or find a better opportunity. 

[rasbo]

Wrong !! I know at least 6 people (including some family members) that have been there for 15 years (this November) and make well over $20/hr so you can stop "thinking" and stfu until you know what your talking about !!

I still find it hard to believe. Not saying you are stretching the truth, but a family aquaintance is a department manager at walmart and she does not even make $20/hour so why would they pay an associate that much. Or are the people you know department managers or a higher position?

Brandon

Dept managers are just glorified associates..My wife is a dept manager,you dont hit the bigger money untill your an assistant manager,above all the managers..My wife just keeps on studying..she is now qualified for assistant manager,but she cant be one at the store you work for,so she has to wait for a position to open somewhere else...we want to go to Idaho or Montana,