Healthcare tyranny

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Sorry to inform you, but the $11 million does not "nicely offset" anything. As a matter of fact, it's a drop in the bucket compared to what is being spent by the industry in order to block any meaningful health care reform.

To anyone who has been following Wal-Mart for any length of time, their political playbook is easy to figure out. It is as simplistic as it is straightforward: they furiously lobby against such issues as raising the minimum wage, and against health care reform, until it becomes apparent that Congress is about act against their position. Then, Wal-Mart jumps on the bandwagon in order to get some good PR out of an otherwise losing proposition for them. Judging from another one of your postings, you are in complete denial about this.

I do agree with your sarcastic comment about (some) politicians not having our best interests in mind. However, insurance industry bureaucrats are at the bottom of the barrel in this regard.

Que?

From the actual OP

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, health interests have given these 13 members of Congress $12 million in campaign contributions

Compared to Wal-Mart's $11 million. So, what the insurance industry contributed 9% more than Walmart. And Wal Mart's contribution is a drop in the bucket? And I'm in denial?

Also, you are clearly mistaken on all counts in your synopsis of Wal Mart's jump on the bandwagon in order to get some good PR out of an otherwise losing proposition for them. From MSNBC:

...Wal-Mart says it pays well above the minimum wage — an average of $10.11 an hour for full-time employees in the U.S.

...

Chief Executive Lee Scott, who made headlines last October when he first backed an increase in the $5.15 hourly pay rate, said Wednesday he still supports a raise...

Link

What good could it possibly do the mega-corporation Walmart to support an increase in the Federal Minimum Wage, when they were already paying considerably more? You must be joking if you think it's for some pitiful PR.

Perhaps, because Walmart was already in a position to be unaffected by the minimum wage raise, whereas their competitors were not, and such an increase would abruptly force the costs of their competitors up.

That's why they did it.

A visit to the real world would result in the discovery that the health care industry spends their (our) dollars on more politicians than these 13 individuals. Have you seen the newly resurrected Harry and Louise television commercials that are playing in the major markets? Have you considered the big bucks the health care industry is throwing at think tanks in order to get their message out? How about the large sums spent on campaign advertisements and hit pieces against those politicians who opposed the Big Insurance agenda? The list goes on and on. Wal-Mart's money is a drop in the bucket by comparison.

Once again, you have chosen to ignore the crystal clear history of Wal-Mart's fight against raising the minimum wage. How do you explain their long fight against raising the minimum wage? You have an opportunity to explain it right here and right now.

Also, I see that you are still quoting complete distortions about Wal-Mart's pay structure in order to support your contention that Wal-Mart would not be affected by an increase in the minimum wage. Wal-Mart is indeed affected by raising the minimum wage. They have lots of minimum wage employees. Where did you get the idea that they don't?

You say that Wal-Mart is paying more than the minimum wage because they pay an "average" of $10.11 per hour (for full-time employees). What you don't say is that this includes long-time employees, assistant managers, and managers, etc., thus skewing the average upward. There are many employees who make only minimum wage at Wal-Mart, and Wal-Mart does not deny this fact. If there are Wal-Mart employees making minimum wage, how is Wal-Mart not affected by legislation (either state or federal) which raises minimum wage? Oh yea, you forgot to include the part-time employees too. Most of those also make minimum wage.

Where do you get your stats? I have friends that work at Walmart. They have their problems for sure, but much of what is being reported as fact is not. Starting wage locally is $8.50/hr. They could expect regular raises, and after a year should make $9.50/hr. One lady working the softline for 15 years is making $18.50/hr. The medical after one year is pretty good, on par with most places for full time employees. Many retired folks work at Walmart just for the medical coverage. For a high school graduate, this may be the best employer out there, other than the Army.

By law, Wal-Mart is required, at a minimum, to pay your state's minimum wage or the federal minimum wage, whichever is greater. There are still states where the state minimum wage is as low as the federal minimum wage. In the state of California, the minimum wage is $8.00 per hour. Federal minimum is much less, so Wal-Mart is bound by California's minimum wage. I'm glad that your local Wal-Mart is paying fifty cents above that. Do all new hires at your Wal-Mart start at that wage, including part-timers?

I have a relative who works at a California Wal-Mart. They start everyone at minimum wage...both the full-timers and the part-timers. You can rest assured that Wal-Mart has legions of employees who start at the federal minimum wage in states where the state minimum wage is as low as the federal minimum wage.

As for job opportunities for high school graduates in this economy, Wal-Mart (and other big boxes) and the Army are about it.

I am thankful every day that I don't have to make a living at a minimum-wage (or, close to it) job.

As far as I know, that wage is the starting wage for most new hires. Hardly anybody gets hired full-time at first. Most employees get hired as "peak-time" or "part-time". Part-time employees work less than 34 hours a week. Peak-time employees work up to 40 hours when the store is busy, and less, using around 30, when the store is slow. More than 34 hours a week withouut break for a certain period, I think 90 or 100 days, shifts the employee to full time and entitles the employee to full benefits. The benefit package is good, with sick pay, personal time, vacation, retirement, and medical.

The bad thing, is all the scheduling in done in Bentonville, Arkansas, where they get very creative, to make sure peak employees don't become full time for their first year. Most Peak time employees are offered full time employment after a year, but they still make you jump through hoops changing your work schedule most often weekly. Once you are full time, you are almost guarranteed at least 34 hours a week. They do pay a Sunday Premium, and Holiday Pay, at least here locally.

[DEDixon 39]

As far as I know, that wage is the starting wage for most new hires. Hardly anybody gets hired full-time at first. Most employees get hired as "peak-time" or "part-time". Part-time employees work less than 34 hours a week. Peak-time employees work up to 40 hours when the store is busy, and less, using around 30, when the store is slow. More than 34 hours a week withouut break for a certain period, I think 90 or 100 days, shifts the employee to full time and entitles the employee to full benefits. The benefit package is good, with sick pay, personal time, vacation, retirement, and medical.

The bad thing, is all the scheduling in done in Bentonville, Arkansas, where they get very creative, to make sure peak employees don't become full time for their first year. Most Peak time employees are offered full time employment after a year, but they still make you jump through hoops changing your work schedule most often weekly. Once you are full time, you are almost guarranteed at least 34 hours a week. They do pay a Sunday Premium, and Holiday Pay, at least here locally.

wow, scheduling is done in Arkansas! It seems going to college while working at WM would be impossible unless local management allows alterations.

[DIARD 1]

As far as I know, that wage is the starting wage for most new hires. Hardly anybody gets hired full-time at first. Most employees get hired as "peak-time" or "part-time". Part-time employees work less than 34 hours a week. Peak-time employees work up to 40 hours when the store is busy, and less, using around 30, when the store is slow. More than 34 hours a week withouut break for a certain period, I think 90 or 100 days, shifts the employee to full time and entitles the employee to full benefits. The benefit package is good, with sick pay, personal time, vacation, retirement, and medical.

The bad thing, is all the scheduling in done in Bentonville, Arkansas, where they get very creative, to make sure peak employees don't become full time for their first year. Most Peak time employees are offered full time employment after a year, but they still make you jump through hoops changing your work schedule most often weekly. Once you are full time, you are almost guarranteed at least 34 hours a week. They do pay a Sunday Premium, and Holiday Pay, at least here locally.

I have a few friends that have worked for Walmart in the past and they did start out at our states minimum wage. Also the bold statement above really is a huge deal with walmart. One of my friends was a part time employee for over 3 years as was alot of her co-workers, not just a year as you state. It wasn't that the store wasn't busy as they continued to hire others on parttime. Walmart just doesn't want to pay the benefits or give out the raises. She finally moved on to a better paying full time position elsewhere.

I found this tidbit about wages at Walmart online. I believe this is the average (long and part time employee salaries)based on 34 hours which is full time at walmart.

The most common Wal-Mart jobs:

A sales associate--the most common job classification--earns on average $8.23 per hour ($13,861 annually)

A cashier—the second most common job—earns about $7.92 per hour ($11,948 annually)

Sales associates and cashiers combined account for more than a third of all Wal-Mart jobs.

Glad I don't have to live on those wages as a single mom.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The most common Wal-Mart jobs:

A sales associate--the most common job classification--earns on average $8.23 per hour ($13,861 annually)

A cashier—the second most common job—earns about $7.92 per hour ($11,948 annually)

Sales associates and cashiers combined account for more than a third of all Wal-Mart jobs.

Glad I don't have to live on those wages as a single mom.

Those represent a good portion of the working poor...the uninsured and the under insured. No one can making those kinds of wages can afford adequate health insurance.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The most common Wal-Mart jobs:

A sales associate--the most common job classification--earns on average $8.23 per hour ($13,861 annually)

A cashier—the second most common job—earns about $7.92 per hour ($11,948 annually)

Sales associates and cashiers combined account for more than a third of all Wal-Mart jobs.

Glad I don't have to live on those wages as a single mom.

Those represent a good portion of the working poor...the uninsured and the under insured. No one can making those kinds of wages can afford adequate health insurance.

*snort* losers!

[rebeccajo 14]

The most common Wal-Mart jobs:

A sales associate--the most common job classification--earns on average $8.23 per hour ($13,861 annually)

A cashier—the second most common job—earns about $7.92 per hour ($11,948 annually)

Sales associates and cashiers combined account for more than a third of all Wal-Mart jobs.

Glad I don't have to live on those wages as a single mom.

Those represent a good portion of the working poor...the uninsured and the under insured. No one can making those kinds of wages can afford adequate health insurance.

*snort* losers!

That's right!

It's not enough anymore just to be a working productive member of society!

Some jobs just aren't worth having, you know.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

And some lives aren't worth savings.

[rebeccajo 14]

And some lives aren't worth savings.

Appropriate typo.........

[Tahoma 2,292]

The most common Wal-Mart jobs:

A sales associate--the most common job classification--earns on average $8.23 per hour ($13,861 annually)

A cashier—the second most common job—earns about $7.92 per hour ($11,948 annually)

Sales associates and cashiers combined account for more than a third of all Wal-Mart jobs.

Glad I don't have to live on those wages as a single mom.

Those represent a good portion of the working poor...the uninsured and the under insured. No one can making those kinds of wages can afford adequate health insurance.

Indeed.