I use to be just like the rest of you working at Sam's. Loving my coworkers, not liking others. The freedom I had to be able to lead my area, and frustration when HO or management would want to change things in my area that we had worked hard on to make great. Complaining because management sits in the office, and gives their favorites everything they want while treating the people they don't like as if they are nothing. Being expected to want my job to hold a priority over my family. Always wanting to quit, but never really doing anything about it. Then the day came. They sat us down, and said they were closing our store. We got severance and pay for 60 days. So many were scared to even try to look elsewhere. They jumped right into another Sam's or Walmart without even giving another job a chance. I took the chance. I got out there and got paid for 60 days until I found another job. It took me a couple weeks to find employment. So then I was getting paid by Sam's, getting paid by my new job and got my severance. I've gotten settled into a new role. No more retail. Made new friends out of co-workers and still keeping in touch with my old ones. Recently I was thinking back on Sam's. How much I wanted to quit so much all the time, but was scared to take the leap. I wish I would have done it so long ago. I am so much happier. I feel like my family is mine again. I don't have to worry about always getting called in or them changing my schedule last minute because of "the needs of the business" garbage. About to clock out and go home and hope a manager doesn't see you because there's a 90% chance they're going to ask you to stay and do more. Even when their completely capable behinds are sitting in the office doing nothing but gossiping and eating. I have my life back. My new job isn't perfect. But it's so much better then where I was. Anyway, I just thought I'd share that with some of you out there who can relate. Encourage those afraid to take the leap. Life is better outside the club.
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3ffc
It is not hard to believe you strove for personal integrity. That is good. Being tough is good as long as it is applied with fairness. No matter how complex a situation may seem the right thing to do is nearly always easy to be discerned even if difficult to do. If it it involves any form of lying , cheating , stealing or abuse it is the wrong thing to do. 99.98 percent of all managers and team leaders make decisions that involve at least one of those negative aspects. If you did not take actions that included even the slightest hint of those things then good.
I once had an occasion to be in Bentonville eating dinner with a bunch of managers. I was not then nor ever have been one. As we ate they discussed various ways the company was hurting people and I thought well at least this group of managers gets it. The the topic turned toward hourlies. I heard a manager whom I had just felt respect for describing in laughter how he treated a worker. It was as bad as or worse than he had felt the company was treating people. My beliefs were confirmed. Managers cry about how they are treated while all the while doing the same or worse to their own charges.
By the way I may never have been a manager at Sam's but have been in various leadership roles in private life so I understand the dynamics of leading and that at times the right thing is difficult to do but almost always easy to see.
I trust that God will lead you to another job (if not already) in which you can continue being an outstanding individual and be a leader that has integrity .
2UUV
You are correct , I was a Manager but I prided myself on being tough but fair. I never promoted anyone who did not deserve it or who was not a clear consensus within the building but I realize that today that is “old School”. Not an Angel or a Saint just someone who believed in doing the best I could , usually under tough conditions in Complex Clubs. My time is done with Sam’s Club. I feel deeply for Managers and Associates who I left behind, I likely will never see again, but still care for. They deserve capable honest Leaders with integrity. In the Market I worked in as others that individual has Zero integrity and is a Vindictive , terrible excuse for a MM. He needs to be removed. But that is Wal Marts issue not mine. I leave that in Gods very capable hands. My only point was to All, do your best. Being a quality person is doing the right things even when you know the wrong thing is happening to, or around you. God really does see All. My only advice , don’t let things you cannot control make you ill, do your best take care of yourself and your families. In the end that is really all that matters.
God Bless and May he Keep you All!
A Former Leader who Did Care for the entire Team. Best of Luck to those left behind.
2dxh...Obviously you are / were a manager. I will try to extend you credit for being one of the better ones. That said , in my more than 20 years with the Club there has never been a time when people were not promoted , praised , reprimanded or fired for anything other than managements personal whims. Obviously some of those folks deserved which ever positive or negative thing that happened to them but in every single year I have worked with WM there were those who fell victim to managerial disdain.
Granted , in the earlier years retaliation was a bit more tricky to pull off but none the less it was flourishing even 20+ years ago. The difference today is that it is rampant like a disease AND now even managers are being retaliated against , lied to and manipulated. So sad to see those who were the sole purveyors of get even / I don't like you tactics now falling prey to the same. Well , not really . I get somewhat of a kick out of managers crying about what they did to us being done to them.
If you are honest you will admit there were times you took action in favor or against an associate just because you did not like them or something they said. If you did not then either you are an angel from heaven or you were never a manager.
Authority corrupts the soul , even the tiniest amount. Consider all the TLs you have seen over the years who suddenly became Julius Caesar when the were promoted.
Many people on here are absolutely paranoid they will lose their jobs. Why? Because it is how they sustain themselves and their families. Valid concern. There is always that potential in any Company or business for reasons we , be us Management or Associates cannot control.
However, when it becomes as rampant , frequent as it is in Sam’s Club, it is time to move on. To get out and do what is uncomfortable. My store too closed, I had been with the Company for a decent number of years. Not a Charter Associate but a good number of years. I made sacrifices for the Company . Moved around in my career. Never refused any assignment.
However it only takes a heartbeat to lose a career here , that is what is so scary. In a previous life that was always there, you had to perform it was expected. Now and then someone was in a jam and either they turned it around or they went elsewhere. However, none of us felt that we could lose our positions just because, someone disliked us. Was vindictive or took personal vengeance against you. Who can work like that every day. It’s not possible. Not for long.
There are individuals here who have done this, continue to do it, and Senior Management knows who they are. Yet they allow it to continue because this current regime believes that works. I simply ask anyone, look at the state of the Company people who are gone for all kinds of very silly reasons. Usually contrived Coachings or unfair Evals that you may not have had anything to do with but are held accountable for a result you stepped up to address in a Club or business unit. Reasonable ? Fair? It has nothing to do with it. That is what has made Sam’s so difficult to live and work in every day. It was a relief to be gone. I have many dear friends with the Company still, I wish them well. Honestly , the current lack of talent available, the threats, the daily fear utilized by MM, and his / her Team are debilitating. I made myself physically and emotionally sick over the situation. Despite our teams best efforts and my personal sacrifice in time and days and efforts. A day off is never really a day off anymore. We are on the phones worrying who will pop in and crush our Club on whatever issue when we are not there. So we work, go in “ for a while” .. whatever we do it’s not appreciated anyway, victories are not celebrated just negativity . Every day is a daily beating over something. No payroll to do the corrections. Better CMs try to cut corners that won’t get you killed, until they do one day. A Gisel or John or MM visit. Rules changed , problem is no one told us . So my advice is, do your bes. Take care of your business but take care of yourselves and your families. In the end they are why we do this at all. Let the rest roll off your back. All the stress in the world and all the worrying could not help our Club that decision was made long ago. Maybe 10 mins before , but the point is clear. We cannot control it, or the behavior of poor performing MM, or Company direction. Do you’re very best for yourselves, and your families everyday. Let God handle the rest.
Peace and May God Bless and keep you all!!
They're a part of something big alright. Big money being handed over to the Walton's. While they just sit back and honestly don't give a crap about a single one of us. You're made to think they're so family oriented. That they work with your schedule but that really means if you're part time only. Now they're just slowly cutting away at everyone's jobs. I want you be like you original poster. I'm getting out, and soon!
Some time ago I had a few minutes to explore the wire...I happened upon a document that told how management was supposed to make their workers feel as though they were a part of something BIG . bigger than themselves and important....in essence the management is supposed to tap into our natural desire to worship...something all people have built in...those of you who have felt betrayed by Sams because you once loved her were the ones successfully taught to worship her...but the management did nothing but fill you full of crap so you world work feverishly for cheap......often managers feel the most betrayed because of how much of their lives they laid at the golden altar of Walmart...it is a shame really that Walmart chose to use evil tactics to win converts but it is also a shame that so many truly "believed" in the company.......give it some real thought and you will see that Walmart Culture should really be understood as Walmart Cult...........
Your story is so much like mine. I finally left and have never looked back. Like you, I own my life again. I wish you total happiness and hope many more read your story! Good luck to everyone!
Right on... Pretty inspiring. They keep looking up and reading these posts then continue grazing in that comfort zone. It's called being weak. Lots of weak people in Sam's and the world. Except being the computer screens that is 🤣 Good luck to you! You made the right choice!
Thank you for your story helps tremendously.:)