Working For Walmart

Ok, so I've been working at Walmart for a month now. I'm really trying hard to figure out why so many people hate Walmart.

I know, I've read the stories about the lawsuits, bad working conditions at some Walmarts, etc. They were some time ago and obviously those particular stores have gotten their acts together, whether they liked it or not. I blame most of what happened on the store managers of those stores.

What I'm trying to figure out is why people are picking on Walmart in particular about pay rates and what country the merchandise coming from.

As for pay rate, I was offered a job at J.C. Penney's with a starting rate of $7.15 an hour, that less than what I was offered at Walmart! From what I've learned the starting pay rate at most major retailers is around the same. Why is it that no one picks on Penney's, K-Mart, Target, etc.?

They do offer medical benefits and while they are kind of stinky, I'm finding that's true of many places. I previously worked for a home heating oil company and was not even offered them. The only time I had decent benefits was years ago with the first oil company I worked at for 13 years. Not one job since then has had decent medical benefits. I'll also be entitled to a store discount and quarterly bonuses after I'm working at Walmart long enough. I also get two 15 minute breaks and a one hour meal break. The 15 minute breaks are paid, the one hour meal break is unpaid. However, if for some reason I do any kind of work during that time, I must put in a time edit so I'll be paid for that time.

As for not understanding when something comes up in my personal life that will interfere with my work? When I applied I gave them the hours and days I was willing to work. If I need to change that, it's my problem not theirs. I don't know too many companies that would not feel the same.

Now the countries where the merchandise comes from. Show me a store, a major chain, that actually carries a majority of products that are made here in the U.S. You're not going to find one and you know why? We don't have any! I hear people tell me they go to the dollar store, Target, etc. instead of Walmart because the products are made in China. Have these people ever read the labels of the stuff they are buying elsewhere?

Don't get me wrong, the work is hard. I'm on my feet 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. But, I'm finding that I really enjoy it. I like helping people find what they need. Each person is unique and different, each coming from different backgrounds, cultures and financial situations. Helping them decide what works best for them really makes me feel good. A recent example was helping a young woman pick out pillows and a mattress topper for her grandmother who is sick. She didn't want the cheapest ones because her grandmother was very uncomfortable with the cheap ones someone else had bought. We managed to find something very nice and more comfortable at a price the young woman could afford.

Now, if I could just convince people not to take curtains, sheets, etc. out of the packages! Please do us associates everywhere a huge favor... don't do that! It's very difficult, if not impossible, to get them back in the packages the way the factory does. And, even when we do no one wants to buy them because you can tell they've been open.

I won't even discuss what some people do to the aisles! I spend a majority of my day putting back stuff left all over the store and cleaning up what has been thrown on the floor!