Having worked for Wal-Mart before I wasn't too impressed with a recent article I read on NYTimes.com.
The new "Associates Out in Front" program was desinged 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," as stated in company documents.
The program will allow employees, 10 rank-and-file workers at 4,000 stores, to meet with managers every week to go over any concerns or issues. They also will 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 extra 10 percent during the Holidays is actually nothing new as well as a "premium holiday" when Wal-Mart pays a portion of health insurance premiums for covered employees and some of the new perks, such as a special polo shirt after 20 years of service, are just downright cheap.
An employee quoted in the article had this to say about the 'morale boosting' shirt:
Cleo Forward, a 37-year-old support manager at a Wal-Mart in Dallas, said the new program was promising, but that it fell short in recognizing long-time workers who felt unappreciated by the changes.
“They are going to spend $15 on a Polo for you after 20 years? Give me a break,” he said. “We would rather they lift the wage caps.”
He did mention that he would like to resolve problems within the company and sees the "Associates Out in Front" program as a step in that direction.
With Wal-Mart attempting 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, as part of their new 'attendance policy' they are also creating a work force that is getting more and more upset as witnessed by recent protests in Florida and West Virginia.
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