How Wal-Mart used to be; what it's become

When I started at Wal-Mart in 2001 I was amazed at its core values and very solid benefits, all of which I'll detail here, starting with career advancement and hourly based living wages...... It used to be you truly could still advance yourself from the lowest rung to the top of the ivory tower. I never wanted salaried management myself, but I worked with assistants, co managers and even a store manager who had started as cart pushers and unloaders. So, lofty career goals could be met. As for income, you could acually support yourself and spouse modestly.

Over time tho, I watched it all shift to where management advancement became 100% favoritism based----it didn't matter how hard you strived, if the senior management didn't personally want you, you weren't going any where. I watched good, smart, hard working quality hourlies crash their heads against the wall as management would continually play the game of 'nope....almost....keep trying a little harder, you were almost there..' I saw two hourlies who didn't even want management have their jobs threathened if they didn't advance. That was weird. ........... As for hourly based income? That's completely changed too. Wal-Mart is best suited for h.s./college students and retirees. Period. There have been states trying to bring action against WM because their emplyees are so impoverished, they're burying the states in public aid debt. How has WM responded? By threatening to pull their stores. And it's worked.

Last: their discipline policies. It used to be you could take a sick day or be late or have to leave early, here and there, and not be in trouble as long as you didn't abuse it. Now? Everything is set in opposition to you from the moment you hire on. It's all based on a point system: worst example is, if you're lieterally one click over clocking out for lunch on time, that's a written write up. Their 'discipline' system is called 'coaching for success', and it used to be about 'how do we work together to make you a better team player?' to 'how fast and legally feasible can we get you back out the door, replaced with cheaper labor, AND bar your unemployment claim?'

So, Wal-Mart has changed from a grass roots philosophy based, Made in America operated family business you could advance yourself in if you wanted to, at least make a livable wage if you didn't want to, and if you got in trouble it was only because you put yourself there.....to a slave-based, fear driven, profit above anything monstrocity managed by some of the most heartless, sociopathic 'people' ever born. I have many friends still caught up in that madness, some in management, and I truly feel sorry for them. This recent apocalypse on the co managers? I don't feel sorry for them in the least. That's the level of the game where you have an ethics choice to make, and figure out if you like Kool Aid, and I saw some good people buckle under the weight of that Deal with the Devil, too. The better ones were either saccrifed or simply quit and when on to better companies.

Wal-Mart used to be a good company.....but not any more.

If you actually read through all this, thank you for that. :)

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Thank you all for your insight and kind words. Employed since 1990, I know that we have seen the best years. I am thankful for the countless friendships and endless laughter I have enjoyed over the years with my coworkers. It's a shame it couldn't continue.

Thank you for posting this. It was a good company to work for When I started in 04. I once love this job enjoy coming to work every day, enjoyed my customers, my coworkers and even my management team. The customer maybe first but the associate don’t even make the list anymore. I am now in a fight to retain hours while looking for a another job or a second job. Good luck to you all! I pray that all our transitions will be speedy and prosperous.

This obvious ex associate is clueless and is spreading fake news. Get a life and if you don’t like Walmart, don’t support the company, the company is better off with people who complain about everything.....

You always hear about how Sam Walton would be rolling over in his grave if he saw what became of his company, but I think if he were thriving in this time period he'd be just the same ---if not worse. Fact is, you don't get to that titanic level of wealth by playing nice, or, in the case of the world's One Percenter's, even acting like human beings.

If someone was to actually do a study Im sure at least half or more of Wal-marts workforce is on some kind of aid and the tax payer is paying for that. One of the richest family's in the world and taxpayers are cleaning up there mess. My wife worked for Wal-mart 20 years ago and didn't seem much better then. Like all of you she done everything that was asked but it was still never enough. Finally enough was enough and she left the company.

Nice post. Thanks for sharing. I also started in 2001. I’ve been on 3rd shift the entire time. I’m awaiting my exit. They will be cutting 3rd shift to a bare minimum. Waiting for life after Wal-Mart. 😊

I'll say up front I'm a displaced Keebler merchandiser and soooo happy I passed on the offer from one WM Co. From my experience with Cos over the years this couldn't happen to a nastier bunch of people. But since I figure they were hired/promoted based on a nasty score they are probably the ones who got to stay and the few you could work with I'll bet are gone. There is no merchandising plan. Cos don't talk to each other, get approval from one about upcoming display placement and next week when the display arrives the other knows nothing, no space. I have actually seen displays sit up in the steel until they expired! Almost no cooperation even when we have placement authorization from Bentonville. A few stores were good at getting displays to the floor and it would sell tons, so I know it was good selling product. Then they'd b--ch about backstock - not my problem.

As a shopper, I too remember the good old days when you could find anything at WM at the best price. It was after about 2001 things started to slide. I had applied twice and never even got an interview in spite of my 15 years retail experience. When I sent a complaint, as a shopper, about the long waits at checkout the store manager called me to apologize. He said it was just so hard to hire and keep good help. So I told him that was funny because with my background I wasn't even considered for an interview. That was the beginning of the end for me.

I began to notice the variety of product started dropping. Fewer brands available. Often couldn't find what I had gone in for. Ad prices at the other store in town were much better and they always opend a register when 3 in line. One of the last times I was in a WM (about 3 yrs ago) I had a list of about 7 items, couldn't find 4, so I just left. One item was mens boxers but the section was such a horrific mess, 3/4 skus on a peg, I just gave up.

I do know how it feels to give your best to an employeer and look forward to being there till "death do us part", only to be crapped on. I feel sorry for those who got let go , and I suspect you were the best of the bunch. But there are companies out there that are expanding, and they actually have things like merchandising plans (what a concept), concern for shopper experience, less chaos, and (in my experience) nicer, more competent people. Best of luck to you.

I started in 2001 also.

There is life after Walmart.

I have a better quality of life.

wow. cool post, thanks for that

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How Wal-Mart used to be; what it's become

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