Oklahoma Senator Inhofe sticks to principle - requires budget cuts in exchange for aid to tornado ravaged community

[Karee 4,190]

Walmart suck on all levels. Their prices - which are not the lowest by any stretch - don't make up for that. At least not for me. Why do people keep going there for jobs? Because people keep leaving there and they have open positions to fill. That's not the case for many of their competitors where staff tends to stick around.

So how do they stay in business? They must have something going for them besides the throngs of Obama voters/customers that don't know any better.

[RGinWA 816]

Well first of all they'll only be able to unionize in the anti-business non-right to work states.

All that you said above sounds nice. But there's no reason for Walmart to do any of that. Can you imagine them going to their shareholders and saying, "We're going to institute a bunch of policies that will cut profits, but it's the right thing to do" I wish I could somehow get advance knowledge of an announcement like that so I could short that stock, because it will tank.

If life is all about shareholders, profits and money...then you're right, that probably won't happen.

I suppose one day they'll be forced to do this when we get fed up with subsidizing their profits with our social safety nets.

Bottom line is that Walmart is a drain on the local economy far more than they assist with jobs. Especially when the workers can't afford to shop anywhere else.

Well first of all they'll only be able to unionize in the anti-business non-right to work states.

All that you said above sounds nice. But there's no reason for Walmart to do any of that. Can you imagine them going to their shareholders and saying, "We're going to institute a bunch of policies that will cut profits, but it's the right thing to do" I wish I could somehow get advance knowledge of an announcement like that so I could short that stock, because it will tank.

If life is all about shareholders, profits and money...then you're right, that probably won't happen.

I suppose one day they'll be forced to do this when we get fed up with subsidizing their profits with our social safety nets.

Bottom line is that Walmart is a drain on the local economy far more than they assist with jobs. Especially when the workers can't afford to shop anywhere else.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's not socialism, its actually far better for Walmart to have less turnover and dedicated employees. That alone will pay for any adjustment in labor costs. Retraining and unhappy employees have huge hidden costs.

That's the one thing I don't understand. You look at your average Walmart and you see dozens of staff just sort of roaming around effectively not doing anything. I have a feeling that you could run the store better with 1/3 less staff which is paid 1/3 more. Impact on payroll still favorable to the company because even if wage cost itself remains flat there are fewer benefits due the smaller staff. I don't get why that is not done.

The best grocery store around here is Publix. That's a company that is consistently ranked in the top 100 places to work in America - in 2013 ranked higher than PWC or Goldman Sachs. Their stores are clean, inviting, friendly and fun. The staff is awesome and motivated. Because of that, I shop there. And you know what? If you know how to shop Publix, take advantage of their recurring sale offers and discounts, you can actually buy your groceries cheaper there than you could at Walmart. And I know that I support a business that treats its staff fairly and pays them equitably. Good stuff. And it shows that it can be done. But hey, I'm just a bleeding heart liberal so I obviously do not know how to take pleasure in other people's suffering.

So how do they stay in business? They must have something going for them besides the throngs of Obama voters/customers that don't know any better.

I don't know. They stay in business because people are mostly stupid fcuks falling for this "Always Low Prices" garbage?

[Karee 4,190]

If life is all about shareholders, profits and money...then you're right, that probably won't happen.

I suppose one day they'll be forced to do this when we get fed up with subsidizing their profits with our social safety nets.

Bottom line is that Walmart is a drain on the local economy far more than they assist with jobs. Especially when the workers can't afford to shop anywhere else.

Employers do pay into the social safety net. 7% or whatever it is, is nothing to sneeze at. Employers pay half of the payroll taxes (social security) So it is a partnership.

I think the idea of social security is great. Unfortunately, the govt. (both parties) have hosed it up in two ways.

1. By borrowing against it.

2. By putting an earnings cap on it. I still don't get this one. I can't figure out why you only have to pay FICA on the first $100k you make or whatever it is.

[B_J 2,752]

That's the one thing I don't understand. You look at your average Walmart and you see dozens of staff just sort of roaming around effectively not doing anything.

With all of those employees roaming around, could somebody open up another register.

[GandD 5,966]

With all of those employees roaming around, could somebody open up another register.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

With all of those employees roaming around, could somebody open up another register.

That's the point, isn't it? Doesn't happen at my local grocery store. Never have more than one or two people in front of me. If the lines start to get longer, more registered are staffed. In an instant.

[RGinWA 816]

With all of those employees roaming around, could somebody open up another register.

That's funny...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

One of those urban myths. 70% of Walmart workers leave the company in less than 1 year. How much company stock do you think these workers - the vast majority of Walmart workers - actually ever accumulate? That's right - none.

Source? I have know several folks that work full time for Walmart, for years. You are right that there is a high turnover, as there is in retail overall. Retailers hire heavily going into the holiday season, and most of those new hires will quit after the new year when their hours are cut. The cream comes rises to the top, and those are the one that stay with one company for years.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Walmart suck on all levels. Their prices - which are not the lowest by any stretch - don't make up for that. At least not for me. Why do people keep going there for jobs? Because people keep leaving there and they have open positions to fill. That's not the case for many of their competitors where staff tends to stick around.

Libs hate Walmart because Walmart takes care of their employees without unionizing. Libs hate Walmart because Libs hate success.

Edited May 22, 2013 by The Patriot

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Source? I have know several folks that work full time for Walmart, for years. You are right that there is a high turnover, as there is in retail overall. Retailers hire heavily going into the holiday season, and most of those new hires will quit after the new year when their hours are cut. The cream comes rises to the top, and those are the one that stay with one company for years.

http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html

And?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Libs hate Walmart because Walmart takes care of their employees without unionizing. Libs hate Walmart because Libs hate success.

If Walmart takes care of its employees, why are these taken care of employees stampeding out of that hellhole? There isn't another employer that dumps as many employees onto public support. There is no employer producing more working poor than Walmart. If Walmart takes care of its employees, then as an employee, I would not want to be taken care of.

And?

And what? You wanted a source on the 70% of employees leaving in the first year. I gave you that source.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Source? I have know several folks that work full time for Walmart, for years. You are right that there is a high turnover, as there is in retail overall. Retailers hire heavily going into the holiday season, and most of those new hires will quit after the new year when their hours are cut. The cream comes rises to the top, and those are the one that stay with one company for years.

Bull. My wife works in retail and has worked in retail for years. Her co-workers don't change frequently. I go to my grocery store for years - all familiar faces there because all the folks on the register, the deli, meat counter, seafood counter, bakery, pharmacy - these are all people that have been there for as long as I have frequented the store. A store belonging to a chain that year after year ranks in the top 100 employers in this nation. I have never seen Walmart making that list nor do I expect to ever see it there.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

And what? You wanted a source on the 70% of employees leaving in the first year. I gave you that source.

And as even that biased article points out, that is typical for the retail industry, for the reasons I already posted, and as Karee alluded to. However, that article should have done a little more research, since many of the statements in that article are factually incorrect.