Walmart Piloting new Job Training Program

[bjl584]

Walmart rolls out new job training program, bonuses for associates (cnbc.com)

[riverwed070707]

It sounds good on paper... the part I get hung up on is this: "The company’s total annual compensation for the median employee was $27,642" and the fact that the new certificate programs are supposed to fill roles for HVAC technicians, opticians and software engineers yet the expected new hourly rates for certified employees will now be between $19/hr and $45/hr instead of $14-18... sorry but those are not market rates for those jobs. Maybe the HVAC tech at the middle to high end of that range but software engineers and optometry are 6 figure starting jobs. What we should be addressing is this:

"As of April 2024, the total compensation for Walmart executives ranges from $200,000–$374,000 per year, with an average base salary of $154,000 and an average additional pay of $113,000. Additional pay can include cash bonuses, stock, commission, profit sharing, or tips. For example, in 2024, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon received $26.9 million in total compensation, which was 976 times the median compensation of $27,642 for Walmart employees."

...and the fact that Walmart has among the highest number of employees on SNAP and Medicaid benefits. They're bragging about bringing up starting wages, but still not giving employees enough hours to qualify for health insurance or other benefits. The public subsidizes Walmart's unwillingness to pay living wages.

[ua_guy]

Yeah, that's crap. Wow, $1,000/year bonus for hourly employees? How about just pay them a good wage instead of putting part of their wage into a higher tax category that will probably depend on factors and company success that they can't immediately control.

[Fishindude77]

Nobody is holding a gun to anyone's head and making them work there.
If you don't like their wages work elsewhere.

[ua_guy]

Nobody is holding a gun to anyone's head and making them work there.
If you don't like their wages work elsewhere.

I think people do... every Walmart I've been in seems grossly under-staffed and the place is a mess. Bottom o' the barrel.

I'm sure it's just "nobody wants to work!", right?

[riverwed070707]

Nobody is holding a gun to anyone's head and making them work there.
If you don't like their wages work elsewhere.

I hope you see the irony in this comment. A whole generation is being blamed for "not wanting to work anymore" because they're standing up for fair wages. This isn't exclusively a Walmart problem and its slowly getting better, but the reality is Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States and they're leveraging public funds to supplement their underpaying of labor. Everyone should be outraged, not just those employed by them or with limited job opportunities.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I hope you see the irony in this comment. A whole generation is being blamed for "not wanting to work anymore" because they're standing up for fair wages. This isn't exclusively a Walmart problem and its slowly getting better, but the reality is Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States and they're leveraging public funds to supplement their underpaying of labor. Everyone should be outraged, not just those employed by them or with limited job opportunities.

That's why costco went the opposite direction of trying to retain staff. In the podcast about them they pay higher than minimum wage and people fight to work there. And the turnover is ridiculously low for a retail company. I know many people who choose to work there for 30 years.

Walmart is going the opposite direction. Less pay and higher turnover. I wonder what would happen if the government says if you pay someone so little they qualify for food stamps and medicare subsidy it goes to the employer?

[ua_guy]

That's why costco went the opposite direction of trying to retain staff. In the podcast about them they pay higher than minimum wage and people fight to work there. And the turnover is ridiculously low for a retail company. I know many people who choose to work there for 30 years.

Walmart is going the opposite direction. Less pay and higher turnover. I wonder what would happen if the government says if you pay someone so little they qualify for food stamps and medicare subsidy it goes to the employer?

I can't say I've ever seen a lazy employee at Costco. Every time we go there they're working their butts off. Costco was paying almost $20/hr to start a long time ago in many locations, and their wages have gone up. It shows...

[Fishindude77]

I hope you see the irony in this comment. A whole generation is being blamed for "not wanting to work anymore" because they're standing up for fair wages. This isn't exclusively a Walmart problem and its slowly getting better, but the reality is Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States and they're leveraging public funds to supplement their underpaying of labor. Everyone should be outraged, not just those employed by them or with limited job opportunities.

My point was that there are sh#tloads of other available jobs out there that pay better.
You can't have the TV on without seeing an add, drive far without seeing a billboard, etc. about jobs starting at $20, $30 & $40 per hour. Lot's of them advertise significant signing bonuses as well.

WalMart's business ethics are a whole different matter. Don't shop there and don't work there if you don't like them. Let your elected officials know how you feel.