I hear a lot of grumbling about Walmart. The family has too much money, they treat their employees unfairly, they beat up their suppliers, and on and on.
I dropped one of the lug nuts for my trailer into the snow and couldn't find it. I went to the tire center at the local Walmart and asked if they could sell me one. Nope, but they were happy to give me a brand new one for free.
A friend's son is on the spectrum. He's a great person and is fun to be around. He's never going to work for Google or Goldman Sachs but he's bright and energetic in his own way. He went to Walmart for a job but they said they didn't need anyone at the time.
He went home and thought about it. He's ~21 and able to drive. He went back to Walmart the next day and said plainly that while he would be slow at first he was reliable and a hard worker. He told them he would learn fast and get better over time and all he wanted was a chance too prove it. They hired him on the spot and he's advanced to different positions since starting.
Look at the people working at Walmart. Most of them are good people who are never going to get hired at Nordstrom's or the Apple Store. They want to work and Walmart gives them a position that most think of as a “good job.” Walmart is known for working with employees who need flexibility in picking up their kids after school or taking care of a relative. Many want to earn some extra income but don't want to work a full 40 hours.
There was a community outside Denver that was planned to be ultra-green. No big box stores allowed. It was failing to meet its budget and finally relented to adding retail stores. The improved tax base balanced their budget. More importantly, the surrounding communities now had access to better goods at cheaper prices. The study I read acknowledged that the people nearby could buy healthier groceries with less money. There were more jobs available without long commutes. Their standard of living was greatly improved. Besides, if the greenies didn't like the stores they didn't have to shop there. But of course they did.
It's a long running meme that Walmart customers are low class. Funny pictures on the internet belie the fact that virtually all the shoppers are good, honest, working class people who want the best for their families. Moreover, I'm not impressed with the entitled snobbishness of Whole Foods customers who think running into you with their cart is acceptable behavior because they are oh-so-important and in a hurry.
Walmart is a business, not a social service agency. They provide goods and services at the lowest prices by negotiating the best deals with their suppliers. Employees are one group of those suppliers. This is not China, nobody is forcing anyone to work at Walmart. But they never have a shortage of customers or associates so something must be working well for all.
It's
the American way!
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