To the editor:
On Oct. 16, Wal-Mart employees in one Florida store walked out on their shift to protest the company's new policies.
One of these ridiculous policies was having schedules created by a computer at the home office. If the associate is unable to work that shift, they run the risk of being fired.
This is yet another example of how Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is no longer thinking of their employees. What about the parents who have sick children or children at school? The simple answer is this: Wal-Mart does not care.
That is why the advocacy group "Wakeup Wal-Mart" is holding a toll-free conference call for all associates to take part in next Thursday. If any employee of Wal-Mart is tired of their personal lives coming second to their working lives, they ought to join in the fight to hold Wal-Mart accountable for their actions.
Emily Matteson,
Eudora
Comments
Ragingbear 10 years, 7 months ago
Case in point. Dillons(Kroger/Smiths) requires all Employees to clock in and clock out via FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION.
Big Brother isn't coming, he's here... And he's been watching you for a while.
classclown 10 years, 7 months ago
"If any employee of Wal-Mart is tired of their personal lives coming second to their working lives..."
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That can be said about most businesses these days.
mom_of_three 10 years, 7 months ago
A local department store I used to work at had schedules run by a computer program at each store. Employees submitted their available work schedule in advance. Employees could also request days off, which had to be done 3 weeks in advance. The computer then took all the information and ran the schedules. Schedules could be adjusted before final approval was given. It's nothing new for a retailer.
Also, it's a given for any job - if you don't show up, then you run a risk of being fired.
Linda Endicott 10 years, 7 months ago
While I don't like Wal-Mart, in all fairness they aren't the only company that does these things.
All companies put out in-house memos and things that promote employees to be the rah-rah team player, but they really don't much care about your personal life or whether something is inconvenient for you. You are merely a warm body to do work for them.
The days of people like George Bailey have been gone for a long, long time.
imastinker 10 years, 7 months ago
I have a hard time believing that they do not allow time off for being sick. I also could not care less if a computer does the schedule or a person, or where that person or computer is located. They can quit and find another job. That store in Florida should have fired all those people, especially the manager that organized it.
mom_of_three 10 years, 7 months ago
I just heard on CNN that Wal-mart will will give an employee 10 minutes before counting them tardy. After 3 tardies, you earn a demerit, and after so many demerits, you can be fired. Well, it's like that in most places of employment, especially retail. My previous employer allowed so many in a rolling year, but a new hire was only allowed 5 (tardies or sick days) in 90 days. Doesn't seem so unusal to me.
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