Thread regarding Walmart layoffs

Just read this thread, there’s so much lying going on here, it’s not even funny.

Dept 49 = Optical for clarification.

If the folks up top could snap their fingers and replace all humans with AI and robots, they would. There’s a reason why the stores are referred to as “cost centers”…….quickly heading down the road of Kmart.

Why are stores overstocked with JUNK? Lots of reasons. But, one primary reason that folks refuse to discuss, is that there are TONS of unqualified and inexperienced folks working in HO. Folks who were hired fresh out of college for CHEAP, based solely on exterior demographic characteristics.

Well, that cheap inexperience comes at a price…….and that price is stores overstocked with JUNK. These vendors and manufacturers are having an absolute blast coaxing these inexperienced and unqualified overgrown children to buy buy buy more stuff.

And the new gig to avoid taking losses on clearance? Just donate the stuff to non profits for a full retail price tax write off. Anybody else notice that? Local habitat for humanity and Salvation Army thrift stores are FULL of overstock brand new Ozark Trail camping items, brand new Expert Grill grills, brand new Haier refrigerators and freezers, brand new huffy bicycles, brand new mainstays lawn furniture.

Previous poster: misinformation czar, hourly's are an expense. They will be replaced by AI sooner than later ( and you I hope). Is the present corp walmart culture trying to get you out, YES. Show me how they are trying to keep their associates. Walmart's ministery of truth doesnt care how you are treated because there are no careers to be as in Sam's Walmart.

This conversation is all over the place and perhaps everyone here is not on the same page.

In regard to my comment about spiffing up your resume and looking for other opportunities…. Here’s where that comes from:

In all the 1:1s I do, and all the executive interviews and skip levels I do, I eventually ask “How do you like your job?”

I ask that because if you’re in a position you don’t like, or a situation you don’t like, or a location you don’t like , you need to intervene and change that pretty quick. If not, you are destined to be unhappy. Think about this: in a 24 hour day, let’s just say you sleep 7 hours. You get ready for work for 1 hour. You commute for 1 hour. Then you work a 8 hr day with an hour for lunch. All that adds up to at least 18 hours a day. At the absolute best, that leaves you 6 hours a day for ‘you’. But, the biggest chunk of your 24 hour day is spent at work. So, if you are unhappy at work - the biggest chunk of your 24 day - you are absolutely hurting yourself, your health and perhaps your family when you most definitely have the power to change it. Does a smart person keep doing something they don’t like? Come on.

Many years ago, a very wise person told me only a fool continues to be a fool. So, I tell people if they aren’t happy, they need to figure out what would make them happy, then put a plan in place and go get it. If you can’t be happy during your work day, you’re going to become hard, calloused and vengeful. You think your significant other wants that? Your kids want that? That’s really healthy emotionally and physically?

Look, if you don’t like working at Walmart, ok. No harm - no foul. But don’t stay somewhere for 30 years if it’s not your thing. Nothing good will come from that.

But, trust me on this, there’s no secret project cooking down in B’ville to get associates to quit. There’s no amount of spin or misinformation that would make that true. But, if you believe that, I’d say that would be enough for me (if I believed that) to find another job. For me, It would be a deal breaker. If it is for you, then find a goal, get a plan, set your sights and go get it.

While the market is changing Walmart lost its competitive advantage when it failed to recognize this about 2016 or 2017. Now they’re playing catch-up to the competition, it may be too late. Every other large company has progressed to digital measurements, online ordering, online scheduling of appointments etc.. while still supporting store operations. None of this is even recent, many of the company’s have already had time to R&D in the field and improved their tech. We can’t even have reliable insurance processing(which also should be investigated, hopefully these people receiving bills report it). Imagine how much people are paying more when they shouldn’t be? I’d be angry as a consumer if I truly knew how optical “guesses” how much I should be charged. BOSS goes down for a whole day and it’s labeled as minor or no rush to fix.

We have specialeyez, bought a company that has given us incorrect measurements, which they’re finally admitting now…but what about the millions of glasses that were made after forcing us with our jobs to use specialeyez? I’m surprised again state boards haven’t stepped in.

The people at Memomi really pulled the wool over the eyes of HO. The version Luxottica gets is night and day difference to the cr---y version we get , yet memomi created both? The guy that’s in charge of “vision and hearing” needs to go, he obviously is too busy doing nothing but collecting a pay check to do anything useful for vision or advocate to anyone above him. Vision has the highest markup in the store, why would a company want to support that.

The immoral transformation of walmart continues. Associates are just expenses. Walmarts present corporate leaders are in for it just for the money. Just like the previous poster. He watches everyone more than likely and compares them to his false standards.

I think the issue one of the prior commenters was trying to convey, is, it is very evident that Walmart would RATHER pay new inexperienced folks than retain experience and credentials with a market based pay adjustment. This is evidenced by your suggestion to leave and go elsewhere.

You didn’t suggest they consult their market director about the concern, because you know what the answer will be, because that is the culture. “Don’t like it? Tough taters. Oh, and while we are at it, let’s start targeting you for minor infractions.” Instead of giving them a decent bump to put them closer to current market rate, you’d rather replace them with inexperience and no credentials. The inexperience and lack of credentials WILL result in increased operating costs as well as decreased sales.

……and round and round the merry go round we go. Endless cycle of attrition.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

It’s not condescending, or, not meant to be. It’s factual. Don’t immediately discount the validity or importance of the information because you think it is.

Generally speaking, hiring salaries are driven by market demand and various other factors, including but not limited to, cost of labor, competitive hiring, how well you interview, available budget, how urgent the opening is, other open hiring needs, and a small handful of other factors.

It’s never a good idea to compare salaries or hourly rates because no good comes of that, as you can now see.

Perhaps it’s best for you to spiff up your resume and see what you can find outside Walmart. If you’re not a happy associate, perhaps another opportunity will help you get closer to your happy space.

Condescension. Sweet.

We are quite accustomed to that though.

You see, many of us HAVE done what we can to attempt to increase our value, but when the company is bringing brand new unskilled and inexperienced folks in at close to the same rate as Licensed and tenured folks, it sure does negate any perceived value the associate may have held.

Take myself for example. I was hired on five years ago as an external candidate as a Vision Manager in the New England area with no optical experience. Was told the best way to keep my job “secure” and increase income was to get certified and licensed. I did that. I got dual certified over a year ago and passed my licensure exams roughly 6 months ago. In late October of last year, I was asked to train a new hire VC mgr with no optical or Walmart experience. This new hire, for whatever reason, decided to disclose her starting rate to me. I didn’t ask for it. She just told me.

Imagine my surprise, confusion and hurt when discovering that after five years experience, two certifications and licensure, this new lady is making just 32 cents less per hour than me.

I fully understand the concept of wage compression, but what is being done about it to retain experience and business vital credentials?

That is not true. There’s no organized or planned program to get people to quit. That’s completely laughable. If you know how these things work, you’d see that. Now maybe you’re scared or hurt or have some axe to grind, perhaps you might not be happy….. who knows why you’re trying to spread misinformation, but the bottom line is this:

1. no program exists to get associates to quit.
2. the company most certainly expects the business in H&W to change. It’s changing now due to the way customers shop and buy.
3. in order to stay competitive, the company needs to periodically review and modify methods and procedures so we don’t lose market share and hopefully gain market share. Just like you, in order to remain competitive you have to be willing to change.
4. without question, the business is changing very quickly. Customer shopping and buying trends are changing quickly. If we don’t keep up, other retainers will.
5. the movement of baby boomers (who are typically favorable Walmart shoppers) into retirement and Medicare are driving changes. It’s across the board in H&W. It’s not just Rx. Or HBA. Or Vision. It’s also TLE, OGP and others.
6. we’re going to see more automation and self service. Boomers are comfortable with technology and so are their kids and grandkids.

Look, don’t be afraid of change. It’s coming and we’ll experience it everyday and everywhere. You’d do better to assess your skill set so you can take advantage of change opportunities. If you don’t improve yourself and your skills, change will eat you up and you’ll wake up one day and realize you can’t support yourself or your family.

Hope this helps. I encourage you to read the above a few times until you get it. Ask questions. Be curious and take action in your own life.

As previously stated……they are in the process of shutting down D49 as we know it over the next few years. In the process…….they want as many “loyal” folks to quit as possible, to reduce their payroll costs, and reduce exposure to severance and unemployment claims.

Ethics is only there to protect the company, not the associate. The sooner you realize this the sooner you’ll realize that you’re not as protected as the company makes it sound.

D49 isn’t seen as valuable as pharmacy, it’ll never change and when the rollout the new “specialeyez” the focus will shift to online glasses ordering. The writing is on the wall.

Oh, brother! I guess I shouldn’t cite the numerous articles and interviews focused on worker shortages, the sectors most affected, or the recent govt reports on labor growth (and shrinkages). But I can briefly summarize here:

1. Retail staffing shortages are being reported across all lines of businesses.
2. Walmart is raising wages to attract more applicants.
3. There is nothing specific or special about health and wellness that excludes any area from these shortages.

Those are facts.

Do YOU have a brain? Anybody can stock shelves and run a register. And most folks still don’t want to. Especially not for $14. Hence, the endless staffing shortages in Division 1.

This thread is specifically regarding pharmacy and optical. The health and wellness side of the business.

For sure. They’re trying to get you to quit. All stores are understaffed, but yeah, they are still trying to get you to quit. Do any of you have a brain? All of retail is seeing staffing shortages, but yeah, they are trying to get you to quit.

Yes, quit. We need to hire better people, anyway.

The reasons that are given for big changes are almost never truthful. There’s ALWAYS more to the story. The phrase “Watch the other hand” comes to mind.

Ethics has to go if there is a restructure. The HR can or should be handling thoes things. Walmart is covert with what they are doing , smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within. I always had a problem with pharmacy not having enough associates. Every store including cvs has to cut hours. Trouble with supply lines?

Yep ethics is a joke. They do nothing with your concern. nothing.

Unreal. “Ethics” reports are an absolute joke too.

I know of one vision center where the HW manger has bullied the staff for so long that everyone has quit. It's been closed for 6 months now.