Community Chat

[WindingRoad]

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@pigletsmom wrote:

Now Walmart is bad because they bring crime to the community? Um what. Do they invite them? Oh wait maybe you mean they bring in low income people which in some cases may mean a not great element along with them. Maybe these can all be replaced with a Whole Foods. No crime then I guess. But of course poor people can't afford to shop there.

So now that the Walmart greeters are saved even though they didn't seem to be in a lot of danger of losing their jobs, who's next? Maybe everyone should gang up on Target for not having greeters. Or maybe shopping networks?

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@pigletsmom   Yes, Walmart invites crime by not being proactive at all in deterring theft and all other related crimes.  People are harmed because of this and pay higher taxes when police agencies are taxed to the max by calls to Walmarts.

Crimes at Walmarts nationwide are in the hundreds of thousands each year.  Thousands are drug busts, rapes, murders etc.

In Amherst NY,  police discovered a meth lab in a 6 foot high pipe under a Walmart parking lot.  You can have you own opinion but not facts.

Don't get me going on my opinion of Whole Foods too.

[CrazyDaisy]

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@pigletsmom wrote:

Now Walmart is bad because they bring crime to the community? Um what. Do they invite them? Oh wait maybe you mean they bring in low income people which in some cases may mean a not great element along with them. Maybe these can all be replaced with a Whole Foods. No crime then I guess. But of course poor people can't afford to shop there.

So now that the Walmart greeters are saved even though they didn't seem to be in a lot of danger of losing their jobs, who's next? Maybe everyone should gang up on Target for not having greeters. Or maybe shopping networks?

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There are some that are so blinded by hatred they cannot see how silly some of the things they say are.  Every business that opens in a community want to be successful.  Have to wonder what they actually hate, the company or the people who shop there.

[Carmie]

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@WindingRoad wrote:

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@WindingRoad wrote:

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This was shocking to me. In the past, Walmart took out life insurance policies on tens of thousands low level employees and those payouts were used to bolster the slush funds of their top level execs. They stopped this practice when the widows and widowers of many deceased employees sued them. The TV show 60 Minutes exposed this nationwide.

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@WindingRoad  This is not just a WM issue.

These policies, Corporate Owned Life Insurance or COLI, are known as "Dead Peasant Insurance" 

This practice dates back to the 1930's btw, long before Wal-Mart showed up.

Wine-Dixie was one of the first to be be brought to public attention. Proctor-Gamble and many others had COLI policies.

I don't know which companies still practice this and while there have been lawsuits against Wal-Mart there have been lawsuits against other companies.

It's legal, although now employees have to be notified and agree to the policy.

I'm not completely sure that the policies were used as a slush fund for bonuses; my understanding was that the cash value was borrowed to pay for other corporate debts.

I am not defending WM by any means, but it is unrealistic when only WM is singled out for using COLI.

How do you know Costco doesn't do the same thing to fund the benefits it pays out to "low level" workers???

@Cakers3    As you said, it is not illegal for companies to do this. However,  most believe that Dead Peasants Insurance is an unethical and defenseless corporate practice.  That's why mentioning this was appropriate when discussing Walmart in particular and as you said, legally, employees must now be notified. 

Costco does not do this, all I'll say is I know this for certain and unlike Walmart, they've never been sued for this in the past.

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Yeah, no kiddin.  And Costco had never hired severely disabled people who are legally blind and who can't read or write, have they?

They can avoid a lot of bad publicity by only hiring able bodied people. Walmart was hiring disabled people 21 years before Costco was founded.

[WindingRoad]

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@Carmie wrote:

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@WindingRoad wrote:

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@Carmie wrote:

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@TY wrote:

@Kachina624 

People with disablilities who work there aren't asking for a handout from Walmart. They have a job and they want to be accomodated. It's always a fight for them to keep the rights that they have. I have a disabled nephew so I know how much his mom and dad have to advocate for him.

If Walmart wants to treat their employees like this I can take my shopping dollars elsewhere. Just a quick glance at my Adobe photo album where I keep photos of my clothes and beauty purchases shows I spent at least $100 on those items alone at Walmart Canada in the month of February. That much money and more will be likely going elsewhere now. And Walmart Canada is very convenient for me, it's in a nearby mall and it's easy to get to and it stays open late. But those conveniences won't outweigh how I feel about them now.

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XXXX

If you choose not to shop at Walmart, that is your choice.  If you make a decision not to shop at places who do not treat their employees well, you will have a small pool of places to shops at.

@Carmie  Your last paragraph is very bothersome to me.  Sometimes people just have enough with companies that treat employees poorly. The only way to disagree with the philosophy and actions of a business is to do that with your money.

For example, Costco,  a hugely successful international business attained that status while also treating their employees like gold, like family. The last CEO, now retired, only took about $350K annual salary, because he thought he really didn't "need" more.  I wonder what the Walmart CEO and other execs take.

This was shocking to me. In the past, Walmart took out life insurance policies on tens of thousands low level employees and those payouts were used to bolster the slush funds of their top level execs. They stopped this practice when the widows and widowers of many deceased employees sued them. The TV show 60 Minutes exposed this nationwide.

I found this absolutely despicable, Walmart didn't even pay them a living wage and provide medical benefits when the employee was alive?  No wonder they didn't provide medical, they wanted them dead.

It's just wrong in every way when a long term employee is terminated without justifiable cause.

When people just roll over and think it's OK for companies to behave like this, it's a sad day.  If you don't demand what's right, you get what you ask for.

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I don't understand what is bothersome to you about my last paragraph.  The point is, there are so many places that treat their employees bad and I bet you still purchase from them.  If you didn't, you would have a small number of places to shop.  That is the truth!

in Virginia, a young man died while at work when he had a heart attack. He was running around the warehouse trying to meet his quota which is normally 100 items an hour. Did you know that Amazon does not allow ambulances to be called right away?  You must call their security personal first , who will call an ambulance if they feel one is needed.  Time was wasted and a man less then 30 years old, married with three small children is now dead.

here in PA, a warehouse got  to be over 100 degrees and employees were dropping like flies.  Amazon just took them outside to receive first aid and sent them back inside to work.  There is no AC or heat in their warehouse. OSHA has sighted them for many violations.

Did you know that employees must make a quota while picking merchandise? If they don't meet it they will be fired.  Employees are fired for calling off one sick day or for having to use the restroom while they are working.

I could go on and on...and yes, I find this troubling.  How many times have you seen the praises on these boards about Amazon sending their items out immediately and how wonderful that is?  Yes, it is wonderful for the customer, but pure hell for Amazon employees.

And everyday all over America, long term employees are let go for what you said is not a justifiable cause.  A former boss of mine who worked for the company for 40 years starting right out of college, was let go the day he returned from vacation because he was no longer needed.  Of course, he got retirement benefits, but he had two kids in college at the time.  how just was that?

The reality....He was let go because he was making too much money after 40 years and his retirement benefits were going up.

They replaced him with a new hire, a young man who didn't know what he was doing, but they could pay him much less.

The Hershey Company here in PA, laid off thousands of workers and took their business to Mexico.  Right now a friend of mine who still works at Hershey in the office is on egg shells because she got wind that her office job is being elimitated.  She has worked  there for over 25 years, but is way too young to retire.

People are let go everywhere. if businesses don't watch their bottom line, they will go under.

Walmart is far from being perfect, but they aren't the worse.  They just get the most coverage from the media.

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I disagree completely that it's just ok for Walmart or for that matter, any of these companies, to treat their employees like dirt.  I doubt you would feel the way you do if it was someone in your family.  I stand by my comments.  Also, Amazon gets almost none of my money!

[WindingRoad]

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@songbird wrote:

I don't shop at Wal Mart, but my husband does.  He buys prescription medicine there.  He says the store has never had any greeters of any kind.  It's not small, a super store with groceries in it.  Even  when leaving, they don't swarm over you like they do in the local Costco. 

@songbird   Costco checks everone's receipt, solely to minimize theft and to keep their prices low.  They do not "swarm" over anyone.  Walmart checks receipts also, in their stores where shoplifting is high.

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[WindingRoad]

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@CrazyDaisy wrote:

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@pigletsmom wrote:

Now Walmart is bad because they bring crime to the community? Um what. Do they invite them? Oh wait maybe you mean they bring in low income people which in some cases may mean a not great element along with them. Maybe these can all be replaced with a Whole Foods. No crime then I guess. But of course poor people can't afford to shop there.

So now that the Walmart greeters are saved even though they didn't seem to be in a lot of danger of losing their jobs, who's next? Maybe everyone should gang up on Target for not having greeters. Or maybe shopping networks?

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There are some that are so blinded by hatred they cannot see how silly some of the things they say are.  Every business that opens in a community want to be successful.  Have to wonder what they actually hate, the company or the people who shop there.

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@CrazyDaisy @pigletsmom   The 'haters' have backed up their opinions with facts, what facts can you offer that validates yours?

[Carmie]

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@WindingRoad wrote:

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@Carmie wrote:

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@WindingRoad wrote:




I disagree completely that it's just ok for Walmart or for that matter, any of these companies, to treat their employees like dirt.  I doubt you would feel the way you do if it was someone in your family.  I stand by my comments.  Also, Amazon gets almost none of my money!

 I noticed that you can read fine, but your reading comprehension skills could use a tune up.

No one  including me has said or implied that we like what companies do when they don't treat their employees well.

It is just a fact that all companies are in business to make money...nothing more, nothing less.  Some members in my family and my friends have lost their jobs and some of them have quit jobs because they did not like the way they were treated.

Your employer is not your friend.  They only owe a paycheck for work done and if you are lucky, you might get some benefits.  They do not owe you a place to work if they do not like you or do not want you or eliminate your job.

No one likes it..no one.  And BTW, my father was crippled by polio in both legs and feet. My oldest sister got both legs and feet mangled up in a car accident and she is also deaf in one ear and my daughter has MS.  I have three family members who were disabled.  They all have lost their jobs more than once in their lifetimes, for business reasons. They are not alone.  It happens everyday to able bodied as well as disabled people.

[WindingRoad]

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@Carmie wrote:

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@WindingRoad wrote:

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@Carmie wrote:

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@WindingRoad wrote:




I disagree completely that it's just ok for Walmart or for that matter, any of these companies, to treat their employees like dirt.  I doubt you would feel the way you do if it was someone in your family.  I stand by my comments.  Also, Amazon gets almost none of my money!

 I noticed that you can read fine, but your reading comprehension skills could use a tune up.

No one  including me has said or implied that we like what companies do when they don't treat their employees well.

It is just a fact that all companies are in business to make money...nothing more, nothing less.  Some members in my family and my friends have lost their jobs and some of them have quit jobs because they did not like the way they were treated.

Your employer is not your friend.  They only owe a paycheck for work done and if you are lucky, you might get some benefits.  They do not owe you a place to work if they do not like you or do not want you or eliminate your job.

No one likes it..no one.  And BTW, my father was crippled by polio in both legs and feet. My oldest sister got both legs and feet mangled up in a car accident and she is also deaf in one ear and my daughter has MS.  I have three family members who were disabled.  They all have lost their jobs more than once in their lifetimes, for business reasons. They are not alone.  It happens everyday to able bodied as well as disabled people.

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@Carmie   It's not very nice that you began your post by attacking me personally, insulting my reading comprehension skills.  I do not, ever, make my point, or share my opinions by insulting and attacking other posters, such as @CrazyDaisy  and @pigletsmom also do.  I try make my point by staying on the subject and backing it up with facts.

 If you feel that you have no choice or power when it comes to corporations that chit on the people that help make them rich, so be it.  I don't feel as powerless as that and I never will.

I also know a LOT about families with disabled relatives, because my relatives have one.

Eta- There's an old saying that's still very true and always will be.   It is, "If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem."

[pigletsmom]

@WindingRoad I'm not sure what kind of facts you're looking for. Glad you have the facts about the Amherst Walmart. I live right by the worlds biggest Walmart here in Albany.

Yes people shoplift. Are you disputing that shoplifting and crime are connected to lower income people as a percentage of crimes? And how is Walmart supposed to stop all of this stuff? Have you worked in a store? Walmart has pretty tough surveillance in theirs but even then you have to be very careful of who you try to stop in the act. I worked in another store and we pretty much had to just let people go to avoid lawsuits. You have to see what people take, where they hide it and watch them walk out the door and never lose sight of them in case they dropped it on the way out.

On the other hand Walmart is a big help to low income people. Low prices for lots of basics. And yes I know how Walmart treats suppliers. I used to work for one. Most companies really really want to be in Walmart. If you can't get your prices down where they want them then you need maybe work with other stores. Most companies want to be in Walmart because it gets them in every state plus the volume. But it's up to the suppliers if they can meet the agreement.

So the only way Walmart "brings crime" is if you live in a really nice area that rarely has crime and is basically middle class to affluent. We do have a town like that here. The people complain all the time about the Walmart and the poor overworked police. Well considering all they normally do is give you a ticket for driving 35 in a 30 they get to broaden their horizons. And I say that as someone that is very pro cop. My city cops are dealing with crime all the time so if it's shoplifting at Walmart or shoplifting at a corner store downtown it's all the same. Although the downtown shoplifting is probably a more dangerous situation.

[CrazyDaisy]

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@pigletsmom wrote:

@WindingRoad I'm not sure what kind of facts you're looking for. Glad you have the facts about the Amherst Walmart. I live right by the worlds biggest Walmart here in Albany.

Yes people shoplift. Are you disputing that shoplifting and crime are connected to lower income people as a percentage of crimes? And how is Walmart supposed to stop all of this stuff? Have you worked in a store? Walmart has pretty tough surveillance in theirs but even then you have to be very careful of who you try to stop in the act. I worked in another store and we pretty much had to just let people go to avoid lawsuits. You have to see what people take, where they hide it and watch them walk out the door and never lose sight of them in case they dropped it on the way out.

On the other hand Walmart is a big help to low income people. Low prices for lots of basics. And yes I know how Walmart treats suppliers. I used to work for one. Most companies really really want to be in Walmart. If you can't get your prices down where they want them then you need maybe work with other stores. Most companies want to be in Walmart because it gets them in every state plus the volume. But it's up to the suppliers if they can meet the agreement.

So the only way Walmart "brings crime" is if you live in a really nice area that rarely has crime and is basically middle class to affluent. We do have a town like that here. The people complain all the time about the Walmart and the poor overworked police. Well considering all they normally do is give you a ticket for driving 35 in a 30 they get to broaden their horizons. And I say that as someone that is very pro cop. My city cops are dealing with crime all the time so if it's shoplifting at Walmart or shoplifting at a corner store downtown it's all the same. Although the downtown shoplifting is probably a more dangerous situation.

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Walmart and their employees also pay taxes in the various cities and should be able to expect the same city services.  Crimes are committed by people, so it has to be the people that are being complained about.