Support NeoGAF

[Rommel]

Approximately 500,000 full-time and part-time associates at Walmart U.S. stores and Sam's Clubs will receive pay raises in the first half of the current fiscal year. Current and future associates will benefit from this initiative, which ensures that Walmart hourly associates earn at least $1.75 above today's federal minimum wage, or $9.00 per hour, in April. The following year, by Feb. 1, 2016, current associates will earn at least $10.00 per hour.

http://www.businessinsider.com/wal-mart-gives-500000-employees-raise-2015-2

 

[ShdwDrake]

When they say trickle down they mean it... bout time tho.

 

[CharlieDigital]

What's the catch?

This seems like a move that's not in the best interest of the shareholders so it seems quite out of character.

 

[Rommel]

Given how expensive it is to hire and train new employees, I'm kind of shocked this didn't happen sooner.

Turnover is a bitch.

 

[Exokell]

What's the catch?

This seems like a move that's not in the best interest of the shareholders so it seems quite out of character.

Less employees, less benefits, less hours, theres so many way to fuck with your employees.

 

[andycapps]

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

Costco is still the best

 

[Roland_Gunner]

What's the catch?

This seems like a move that's not in the best interest of the shareholders so it seems quite out of character.

Maybe Wal-Mart finally realized that its low paid employees but tons of stuff at Wal-Mart? They're basically paying themselves and get better employees, less heat from people calling them welfare cheats, etc.

 

[The Technomancer]

This...is suspicious. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I am

 

[Enron]

Given how expensive it is to hire and train new employees, I'm kind of shocked this didn't happen sooner.

Turnover is a bitch.

This is probably the reason for it. WalMart, even with shitty pay, will have no trouble finding new employees but everytime they do it costs them a bucket of money. Cheaper to pony up x amount to hopefully retain more associates per quarter.

The BI article mentions the pay raise along with the other changes they are making will cost the company 1 Billion dollars in the coming year - so whatever Walmart's goal is, they are pretty serious about it and you have to think it will save them more than a billion in the coming years.

 

[slit]

This...is suspicious. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I am

Well they're not doing it out of the goodness of their heart, they're doing it for PR but it's still a small win for the working poor.

 

[theechrisfox]

That's not enough.

 

[AtomskEater]

This gif hurts my soul.

 

[Enron]

Well they're not doing it out of the goodness of their heart, they're doing it for PR but it's still a small win for the working poor.

1 Billion dollars is not "just doing it for PR". They definitely aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, there's a payoff coming down the road.

 

[Testicular Sound Express]

BAHAHAHAHA

 

[Markster]

Did minimum wage go up?

 

[Zombine]

Rafa, brah, this has got to hurt...please reply if you're ok.

 

[A Human Becoming]

Did minimum wage go up?

With this Congress? Never. It did in some states last year.

This is obviously a calculated measured. At least it's something.

 

[Entropia]

That's not enough.

It's a start though.

 

[bennywhatever]

How many total Wal Mart/Sam's Club employees are there? Because if there's 1,000,000, that means in the first half of the year, half of them are getting raises. I take that as "Wal Mart employees get a yearly raise."

 

[TheSeks]

Maybe Wal-Mart finally realized that its low paid employees but tons of stuff at Wal-Mart? They're basically paying themselves and get better employees, less heat from people calling them welfare cheats, etc.

They're still Welfare Cheats as far as I'm concerned.

Good on them for paying a fifth to a tenth of their workforce more, though? Maybe sometime in the future they'll stop overworking their transport drivers as well.

 

[AlimNassor]

This is probably the reason for it. WalMart, even with shitty pay, will have no trouble finding new employees but everytime they do it costs them a bucket of money. Cheaper to pony up x amount to hopefully retain more associates per quarter.

The BI article mentions the pay raise along with the other changes they are making will cost the company 1 Billion dollars in the coming year - so whatever Walmart's goal is, they are pretty serious about it and you have to think it will save them more than a billion in the coming years.

It's easy to find new employees but, finding good associates is pretty hard. Many of the people we hire are completely and utterly useless and either quit or get fired pretty quick. When we lose long term associates that are very good and hard working that hurts.

 

[Buddha Beam]

If we could just change her vest to be Wal-Mart vest blue and it'll be absolutely perfect.

 

[AyaisMUsikWhore]

MA better be the first place this happens because out Minimum wage has been in the $9-$10 projectile


Thank goodness I don't work retail anymore and have an amazing job making far more than that shit, but my brothers and sisters in this city definitely need it. And this is very sustainable for some college students.

 

[slit]

1 Billion dollars is not "just doing it for PR". They definitely aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, there's a payoff coming down the road.

Oh sure whatever you say.

One billion dollars for good PR is nothing to them.

 

[Chumly]

This is probably the reason for it. WalMart, even with shitty pay, will have no trouble finding new employees but everytime they do it costs them a bucket of money. Cheaper to pony up x amount to hopefully retain more associates per quarter.

The BI article mentions the pay raise along with the other changes they are making will cost the company 1 Billion dollars in the coming year - so whatever Walmart's goal is, they are pretty serious about it and you have to think it will save them more than a billion in the coming years.

This. Turnover is not cheap and it can be very expensive even in a job that doesnt require as many skills or training. Walmart is broadcasting this for good PR but there is for sure a business reason behind it.

 

[this_guy]

It's like when Henry Ford thought it would be good for the economy and his company if his employees could afford to buy the cars they built. Now Wal-Mart employees make enough to shop at Wal-Mart.

 

[E the Shaggy]

I'm sure they'll cut folks' hours even more and hire less in order to compensate for this.

 

[WoodWERD]

Trickling down just in time for campaign season.

 

[Enron]

Oh sure whatever you say.

One billion dollars for good PR is nothing to them.

Is this a joke? 1 Billion USD is roughly a quarter of their 4Q earnings. That's a lot of money, even to them.

I'm sure they'll cut folks' hours even more and hire less in order to compensate for this.

Well....'hiring less' is the whole goal behind employee retention as it costs to hire more .

 

[Mii]

They must be anticipating upward pressure on wages nationally and they would rather try to reduce turnover by making a preemptive change.

This is probably a very good sign for the overall economy.

 

[Fragamemnon]

WM doesn't just go and throw money at things. Their leadership values are easily the most repugnant I've ever seen, but WM is generally very good at sniffing out something rotten and putting efforts to fix that problem. I would wager that they are fighting both an image problem and the fact that the job market isn't quite as bad in a lot of places as it used to be. They need to keep their best performers-even those barely making above minimum wage-retained.

 

[Duplolas]

BAHAHAHAHA

What he said ^

Lmao

 

[slit]

Is this a joke? 1 Billion USD is roughly a quarter of their 4Q earnings. That's a lot of money, even to them.

Which is still nothing in the grand scheme of things. They don't just pull one billion out of their pockets, it doesn't work that way. I'm saying it's not much from a risk/reward perspective.

 

[Darklord]

1 Billion dollars is not "just doing it for PR". They definitely aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, there's a payoff coming down the road.

If they had a heart there wouldn't be tens of thousands of poverty stricken workers who get over $6 billion in food stamps each year.

 

[terrisus]

which ensures that Walmart hourly associates earn at least $1.75 above today's federal minimum wage, or $9.00 per hour, in April.

Come to New England.
Minimum wage in Massachusetts is $9.00 already.

 

[mckmas8808]

This is great! This is what happens when you are persistent.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

They must be anticipating upward pressure on wages nationally and they would rather try to reduce turnover by making a preemptive change.

This is probably a very good sign for the overall economy.

I would like to upvote this post. Well said.

 

[ezrarh]

Communist Obama must be working his voodoo on Walmart.

 

[mr.rager]

They're gonna cut employee hours so it evens out in the end.

 

[mckmas8808]

I'm sure they'll cut folks' hours even more and hire less in order to compensate for this.

Hiring less isn't bad if it means they keep their same employees, employed at their current jobs.

 

[KidGalactus]

They must be anticipating upward pressure on wages nationally and they would rather try to reduce turnover by making a preemptive change.

This is probably a very good sign for the overall economy.

This is what I expect is the case. Wages are going to be an election issue.

Don't want to end up in the crosshairs.

 

[Timedog]

They must be anticipating upward pressure on wages nationally and they would rather try to reduce turnover by making a preemptive change.

This is probably a very good sign for the overall economy.

This seems more likely than doing it from the goodness of their hearts. That it's good or is but another benefit.

 

[leakey]

This is what I expect is the case. Wages are going to be an election issue.

Don't want to end up in the crosshairs.

Definitely. Reeks of strategy instead of altruism. Good that these folks are getting a raise, though. Can't say that's a bad thing.

 

[AlimNassor]

They're gonna cut employee hours so it evens out in the end.

We're already understaffed as it is. If they cut my associates hours, fuck that I'm quitting. I can't run a department without my associates helping me.

 

[The Albatross]

By the reactions in this thread, seems like they just shouldn't even bother. WalMart doesn't give a raise, people are pissed. WalMart gives raises... people are ... more pissed...

 

[Orbis Tabula]

They must be anticipating upward pressure on wages nationally and they would rather try to reduce turnover by making a preemptive change.

This is probably a very good sign for the overall economy.

This is how I'm reading this. Good news for that half a million people, though. Keep it up Wal-Mart. Good Job.

 

[terrisus]

By the reactions in this thread, seems like they just shouldn't even bother. WalMart doesn't give a raise, people are pissed. WalMart gives raises... people are ... more pissed...

Should've just cut salaries.
Cut hours and positions while they were at it, too.

 

[slit]

By the reactions in this thread, seems like they just shouldn't even bother. WalMart doesn't give a raise, people are pissed. WalMart gives raises... people are ... more pissed...

I don't see people pissed. I see people questioning motivations which there is nothing wrong with.

As long as they follow through it's a net positive.

You can't expect people to sing their praises knowing their history.

 

[BFIB]

Now I fully expect them to cut payroll by canning middle management and moving some of these employees up as part of this "raise".

Cannot trust anything they do that seems beneficial to the employees.