tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post116481377928958946..comments2023-10-24T05:49:04.269-04:00Comments on The Chaliceblog: Oh, what the hell, one more Wal*Mart storyChalicechickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07781469958573869914noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1165711209013488592006-12-09T19:40:00.000-05:002006-12-09T19:40:00.000-05:00I agree with lareinacobre: you have to factor in ...I agree with lareinacobre: you have to factor in benefits and such, not just salary. For example, I have a lower starting salary than some of my friends, but I have a great work environment (mostly! certainly not perfect) and an extremely flexible leave policy. This is important to me. Nothing is ever black-and-white. <BR/><BR/>That said, I agree that perhaps Wal-Mart gets bashed a leetle too much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1164834961710529282006-11-29T16:16:00.000-05:002006-11-29T16:16:00.000-05:00Certainly Edwards should do his research before cl...Certainly Edwards should do his research before claiming that he's doing this as a moral stand. However, if Wal-Mart doesn't carry his book anyway, it doesn't make sense for him to make an exception in his general policy of avoiding Wal-Mart because of its poor treatment of workers for a particular Wal-Mart that pays at the level he prefers. (I don't know if B&N ever has been <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/12/AR2006101201608.html" REL="nofollow">found liable for forcing unpaid overtime from its workers</A>, settled for $11 million for hiring undocumented workers, or has been accused of discriminating against women, but I'm guessing not.) <BR/><BR/>Also, because Wal-Mart only will reveal the average salary for full-time workers (this include executives, and is $10.11) but not for part-time workers nor starting (as opposed to average) salary, it's difficult for Edwards to compare. Moreover, the $7.50 may have averaged in the starting wage for an overnight worker, which position doesn't exist at B&N because they're not open 24 hours.<BR/><BR/>Moreover, I assume Edwards set the sites for his book tour some time ago, whereas Wal-Mart raised wages in a third of its stores, in response to public pressure, just in August.<BR/><BR/>And to give Edwards some space to put his <A HREF="http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2006/11/27/former_vp_nominee_promotes_book_on_childhood_homes/" REL="nofollow">foot in his mouth</A> (as I'm assuming this blog's repeated assertions that Edwards does tell people not to shop at Wal-Mart are true):<BR/><BR/>'Edwards countered that unlike Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble offers a comprehensive health care plan to even its part-time workers.<BR/><BR/>'"I've never asked anyone not to shop at Wal-Mart," he said. "I understand people need to buy inexpensive goods... But there are other companies, like Costco, who can do it and pay a decent wage and provide health care coverage, and I don't think that responsibility should be passed to taxpayers."'<BR/><BR/>Of course, now that the American Family Association has told Christians to boycott Wal-Mart because it carries books that say it's OK to be gay, I feel obliged to shope there.<BR/><BR/>Incidentally, in my elitism I hadn't realized that the <A HREF="http://www.vault.com/companies/company_main.jsp?product_id=1154&co_page=13&type=salary" REL="nofollow">Vault guide</A> (which assumes near-biblical status around job interviewing time) also covers regular companies, and they have lots of info from people in various positions at Wal-Mart about what they make.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1164833483409802132006-11-29T15:51:00.000-05:002006-11-29T15:51:00.000-05:00I don't know about this whole situation, and from ...I don't know about this whole situation, and from what I understand, those were the hourly starting differences for the two stores in that particular town (not across the board). <BR/><BR/>But other things I would take in consideration are: do they offer health insurance, dental, child care, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, vacation time, 401K, and other benefits? For part-time employees, too? How much does it cost? What is the pay scale? Are the work hours livable, and permitting of having a life outside of work? Is the work environment stressful or accommodating? <BR/><BR/>I don't think big box retailers are necessarily bad. I shop at Costco, for example. From reports I have read (not from Costco sources), the employees are well compensated for the work they do and the company's retention rate is quite high. <BR/><BR/>I care more about employee satisfaction than how big or small the store is. Another important factor for me is overseas business practices - are we eggregiously exploiting people with fewer rights than US Americans in order for US Americans to save a few bucks? <BR/><BR/>I don't know what B&N's practices are. Maybe Edwards feels or believes that B&N is a better company overall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1164825074375355272006-11-29T13:31:00.000-05:002006-11-29T13:31:00.000-05:00AMEN!AMEN!Early Riserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02462564213193788134noreply@blogger.com