LISSA'S: Wal-Mart: Home of Favoritism and Popularity

As an ex-Wal-Mart employee, I have witnessed many disturbing events done by the company and by the Sherman, TX Wal-Mart #947. Just to begin my story, let me just tell of what I have seen in the areas of Favoritism and Popularity Contests.

Let me first begin with my story. I worked for Wal-Mart in the One-Hour Photo Center. During the busy Labor Day Weekend, I was trying to help a customer who was standing outside the center, while trying to keep the machines running. During all the activity, I accidentally poured the wrong chemical into the wrong slot on one of the machines. I immediately realized what I did and asked for help in correcting the situation. During the process of trying to fix my mistake, two other associates in my department ran a test strip and spread the contamination through the whole machine. It ended up with us having to drain the entire machine, clean it and refill it. In the end, no one was hurt, no machine was damaged, no one's property was damaged. We were down for a few hours due to the whole thing. I was led on for a week that this was no big deal, that everyone understood it was an accident. But a week after the event, I was called into the office by Co-Manager Donnie Baker and terminated for the event.

Since my termination, I have found out that I am not the first person to accidentally put the wrong chemical into one of the machines. I am just the first to be punished for doing it. I have always known that I am a square peg trying to fit into a round hole in this place, but I tried my best. And for all of my trying, I was terminated. Just because I was not as high up on the manager's favorite list. Management got along with everyone else that I worked with, so it didn't surprise me when I found out that no one else was questioned on the spreading of the contamination, or the reasons we were down. No one else's part in the event was brought into consideration.

Let me give you an example. There is an associate who was terminated by his Assistant Manager. The reason for his termination was "repeated poor job performance." There was one problem. This person is extremely liked by Donnie Baker and Store Manager Bryan Lambert. So, after he was terminated and escorted out of the building, Mr. Baker went outside and pulled him back into his office and immediately gave him his job back in the same department, under the same Assistant Manager who terminated him. So, basically saying that an accident from an associate who he doesn't like is worse than an associate who doesn't do his job, but he does like.

And it continues from here. A popular cashier was found doing many acts that any one of them should have gotten her terminated. One of the events she was guilty of is even listed in training, manuals, and computer based training as Gross Misconduct. And to quote Wal-Mart's policy "Gross Misconduct will not be tolerated. Coaching for Improvement will not be used to address gross misconduct. The employment of an Associate who is deemed to have engaged in gross misconduct is subject to immediate termination." But again, she was a popular cashier. They rolled all the events into one "no-no" session and gave her a verbal warning not to do them again. Since then, I have found three other associates who have done the same "Gross Misconduct" event, and none of them have been punished. It didn't surprise me to find out that one of those people guilty was the same as the one who had "repeated poor job performance."

There have been many people who have been victims of accidents at this place this year. The ones who are popular, nothing happens to them. The ones who are square pegs, they get punished. One of the steps managers are supposed to do during a coaching process is "Perform a Consistency Search to determine the level of coaching given previously for similar offenses.” But yet, in my situation, no one had gotten in trouble before for the same act, so how is this considered consistent? I had never had an accident in the 8 years of working here before this, how is this consistent? But yet, when I received my coaching, it became more of a terroristic event. I was taken into the office, and not allowed to leave until I signed the paperwork. I was not allowed to disagree, not allowed to do anything. In fact, I was told that there was no Open Door Policy. The Open Door Policy that Wal-Mart is so willing to throw into their associates faces is only there when they can use the information against someone. It is not there when an associate needs it.

This is not the first time Donnie Baker tried to attack me. I have been threatened for termination for being diagnosed with an illness that made me "too contagious for being in public." I have been threatened for being in the hospital. I was even told by Donnie Baker that when my 8 year old son had chicken pox, I should not have stayed home with him, and the next time I did so, I would be terminated. In all the previous attempts, they did not have the standing to actually terminate me, but they found a way in an accident by twisting the wording and making it look like I did sabotaged the machines on purpose.

But in all the days I missed, there are many others who get away with missing days and are never punished or threatened.

We have contacted Wal-Mart Ethics on these events, and have been told that these actions are not considered as part of their department. On November, 2, 2007, we also sent a letter to Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart about all of this, and they have refused to answer.

In the meantime, the popularity poll continues. In October, the store held a costume contest. The winner was not the best costume, but it was the prettiest contestant with the highest skirt and lowest cut blouse. It is a proven fact that to get Donnie Baker to acknowledge you, the deeper the 'V' in your shirt, the more attention and favors you get. Third place was given to a Customer Service Manager who is also the leader of the local Safety Team. Now management was not supposed to be considered in the contest, but one did get through. And her costume really didn't match up to the others. She dressed up as Princess Fiona from Shrek. But yet, there was a person who actually dressed as Shrek, and his costume was technically more difficult and artistically more accurate, but he didn't even get a nod.

Now for December, they have decided to take it all one step further with the "Wal-Mart #0947 1st Annual Awards Banquet". This is a poll to vote for the most popular in the following categories: Office Associate, Overnight Associate, Department Manager, Salesfloor Associate, Cashier, Manager, and Associate of the Year. Now there wording says "Vote for the most deserving", but if it were the most deserving, shouldn't the contest be considered from Evaluations, Statistics on the job, and Customer comments? If it were, it would be open to everyone. I had very high stats, and made "Exceeds Expectations" in many areas on my Evals. But not everyone knew that. But to get the public vote you have to be popular, and that is what they are wanting. And by the looks on the categories, the managers themselves are looking for a little pat on the back this time around. I will make you a bet right now. There are 7 categories being voted on. I am willing to bet that at least 6 of the winners will be at the banquet. Why? Because it is the popular thing to do, and you have to be popular to get off from work to make it to the Banquet.

LISSA’S: Wal-Mart Fact 2: Black Friday and the BLITZ Day Blunders

I know thousands of you will go to the Sherman Wal-Mart this Friday for the new advertised "specials" that will be coming in the mail this week, or for the 5 hour BLITZ sell starting at 5am, or the Special Two Day sale, or even Wal-Mart's newest "Secret Sale" which will be happening. Or maybe you will go just because it is Black Friday, and since there is nothing else to do, you will go hang out at Wal-Mart and try to look cool as you always do. But there is a good chance you won't have the shopping experience you normally do.

Just a behind the scenes view of what is going on at this time. For the past two weeks, Store Manager Bryan Lambert and Co-Manager Donnie Baker has pulled Department Managers out of their departments to work grocery. Instead of preparing their departments and getting items on the floor for sale, they are having to go over and stock the grocery shelves. The grocery side is so short handed that they cannot get the shelves stocked. Overnight stockers are not expected to do anything anymore and it doesn't matter if the job gets done or not. It is now up to the rest of the store to sacrifice their workers to come rescue the grocery side. The shortage of workers doesn't just stop there. The General Merchandise side also has a shortage of workers. In many departments, the Department Manager is the only who is working. So, instead of getting their departments ready for the onslaught of Black Friday, nothing is coming to the floor so they can make sure you have Lucky Charms and Pop Tarts for the morning of Thanksgiving. Yes, Department Managers are scattered through the grocery side, including areas not typically associated to Thanksgiving. So, don't be surprised if the selection is not as good as other Wal-Marts. I have heard many of the associates talking about how much is in the back and that they are not able to get it to the floor.

And if you think that there is still this week to get ready, just know that the time spent in grocery has been doubled for this week for all Department Managers. Today, they will be spending the day outside working in all of those pretty trailers littering the parking lot. For the first time in the Sherman store's history, Mr. Lambert decided to put everything on the trailers, but had no organization plan. Items and Electronics for the BLITZ are outside on these trailers, and no one knows where. So, they are going outside to organize and find all the items that are needed for the 5 hour BLITZ sell. This will be an all day event, when they are not working in grocery. But let me also say, does anyone else notice how humid it has been the past couple of days? How hot it has been? Those trailers are not moisture proof, and they cook like an oven in the sun. And yes, I did say the Computers, Laptops, Playstations, and Electronic Toys are all out on that trailer. Baking in the moisture. Has anyone paid attention to what the weather is supposed to do here in the next couple of days? Oh, that's right, we have a cold front coming through. Temperatures are going to drop from the 80's to the 30's..... Cold on the outside of those metal trailers with all that hot moisture inside.... Last time I saw that, it rained on the inside of those trailers from all the condensation. Congradulations, you just bought a wet television for your home.

But they still got Wednesday, right? No, all day in grocery. Thursday, they are off for Thanksgiving. Department Managers will clock in at 4:45am Friday morning. Giving them 15 minutes to set up for BLITZ and start stocking their departments. After two weeks of sales, they will be getting ready for the Black Friday crowds with 15 minutes to do it, but they have to set up the BLITZ items first.

They are wanting sales, right? Uh, think again. There are many items that never see the light of day. So many items that have to be sold in a certain time frame, but because Bryan Lambert doesn't want them out, they get sent back, never coming out to the floor for sale. Have you noticed the big box of calendars where the books used to be? Mr. Lambert didn't like the calendars in his area, so he forced the vender for the books to pull his rack with hundreds of books out of the area the book company leases, so Mr. Lambert could put his rack of calendars there. So, now there are books that come into the store and get sent back to the distributor with never being set on the floor. This is the same throughout the store. Items come in throughout the store, and get sent back because Mr. Lambert choses not to allow them on the floor, or Mr. Baker decides that you, the shoppers, would not like them.

Yes, management has the option to decide what to sell in their store, and they will send items elsewhere that they do not want to sell. Items they think you do not want.

And then look at prices. Isn't it suspicious how Texas prices are cheaper than Oklahoma prices for the same item at the same retail chain? They said it is because of the law in Oklahoma not allowing people to sell at below cost. But wait, let's look at prices from city to city. A refrigerator in Gainesville, TX is $10 more expensive than the same refrigerator at the Wal-Mart 30 miles down the road in Sherman. Both refrigerators come from the same distribution center. In fact, it is closer to Gainesville from the distribution center than it is to Sherman.... Food cost at McKinney is cheaper than it is in Sherman.... McKinney is further from the grocery distribution center than Sherman, but it is cheaper. Okay, let's get specific.... Great Value Bread, retail price in the Sherman Wal-Mart - $1.08, Great Value Bread, retail price in the Galveston Wal-Mart - $0.58. Same bread, same store, same state, from the same vendor, almost half the price. Oh, and a thought for Thanksgiving, that same bread company has brown and serve dinner rolls at the Wal-Mart Everyday Low Price of $1.16, same bread company, same rolls, different package at a different store in the same town - $0.69

So, keep shopping at the place that makes your decisions for you, jacks up the prices just like a monopoly would, and really doesn't care if you get your items or not. Just like I overheard a member of management say once, "The only thing in the store that is important is the front end. We need to get the customer's money and get them out the door. Everything else can come later."

LISSA’S: Get to know your Wal Mart managers: Confessions of a Wal Mart Hit Man

I am a former Wal Mart associate and I can tell you from experience that this is typical communist practice that goes on at Wal Mart. This video is just a piece of the very informative movie "Wal Mart: The High Cost of Low Price". The more I can spread the word about these evil practices and open people's eyes, the better off the world will be.



What this person is saying is true. Not just for certain Wal-Marts, but for even the ones in your own backyard. In the section titled "Ghosts", I have personally heard the Ex-manager, Jack Steed, and one of his assistants, Mark, have the same talk at the Wal-Mart 185 in Gainesville, TX. They would brag about how long it would take to shut down businesses, and they actually put the "3 month", "6 month", and "one year" tag on many of the local stores. They were proud that the new SuperCenter store would be closing down other businesses.

At the Wal-Mart 947 in Sherman, TX, I have seen the Assistants (or Lieutenants as this gentleman says) sitting in the break room, listening to other peoples conversations. I have seen the people who have no money and cannot afford lunch, and just sit there for an hour. I know for a fact that there are many people who work in the Sherman store who are on welfare because they do not make enough and Wal-Mart forces these families to live off the Government as part of their pay. I have seen the posters informing the associates of the Government programs they can get so they can live to come to work tomorrow. I, myself, was told of the food stamp program, and the medicaid program. I was also told that if I could get pregnant, I could also qualify for WIC.

I have seen people working off the clock here at the Sherman store. Not only just working, but in the past few months under Manager Bryan Lambert and Co-Manager Donnie Baker, I have seen hourly associates called in to work off of their vacation, and been expected to work without pay.

One of the "benefits" given to you at this store is the ability to take two 15 minute breaks during an 8 hour work period. But I have also been told by the management at this store that since you are paid for these breaks, it doesn't matter if you get them or not. There were many times I was expected to give up my breaks.

So the next time you shop at your local Wal Mart and you see associates that are not smiling or act like they just don't want to be there, remember this blog and video. Remember the managers and company that are "behind" them.

For more information, go to www.walmartthemovie.com. Please spread the word. Thanks!