As Walmart moves to phase out its familiar blue-vested “greeters” at some 1,000 stores nationwide, disabled workers who fill many of those jobs say they’re being ill-treated by a chain that styles itself as community-minded and inclusive.Ayup. "We know none of you guys can do any heavy lifting, so even though some of you guys have been working for us for twenty years, we're going to redefine your jobs and push you all out."
Walmart told greeters around the country last week that their positions would be eliminated on April 26 in favor of an expanded, more physically demanding “customer host” role. To qualify, they will need to be able to lift 25-pound (11-kilogram) packages, climb ladders and stand for long periods.
I wish I was surprised by the level of naked greed evinced by Walmart. But they are what they are-- the scum of the universe.
Update: Read the first comment. It is exactly on point.
Update II: Walmart says they'll try to find them other jobs. Right, as if anyone would trust the word of a Walmart executive.
Sprawlmart is finding out, first hand, that when you have become a community’s replacement for a number of hyper-local establishments, the whole only the bottom line matters approach is unacceptable. Having moved into the community, and taken the role of de facto meeting place and community heart after driving the local businesses out of business, they failed to understand their responsibility, in the eyes of the locals.
ReplyDeleteA huge, for profit, business focused solely on the bottom line is ill-suited to providing those jobs that the community appreciates and responds well too. Everyone knows “Jimmy”, and that he’s a bit slow, but Jimmy used to sweep up at Thompson’s 5&10. Everyone visiting would talk with Jimmy, and the whole community respected Thompson’s for helping Jimmy work and feel pride in his job. Sprawlmart has no corporate understanding of this concept and it can’t be reflected on their accounting statements or manager reviews.
A smart regional director would have noticed Delores, the greeter, and observed how everyone entering the store interacted with her, and talked about how she had taught them, or their parents, when she was the school marm. He would know that some would even make it a point to stop by weekly to talk to her, and realize the net positive result that had for the store. Instead, a bean counter in Benton, AR sees an underutilized employee, a waste of a few dollars an hour. Thus greeters become hosts, the rest is history.