Working on register eight hours a day can be mind-numbingly boring and all too often I found myself zoning-out. During one of these times a friend came through my line (just to get a look at me in my spiffy blue vest) and was horrified by the zombie he found. Apparently I was just robotically scanning items, emotionlessly greeting customers, and even looked straight through him without a trace of recognition. After this I resolved to be more observant and mindful of what was going on around me… and it quickly paid off.
It was late afternoon on a Thursday when the scene unfolded directly in front of the register where I was spelling a lunch break. An off-duty middle-aged female sales associate had pulled one of the Assistant Manager’s aside into the Optical Center to talk to him. Straining to hear over the incessant beeping of my register, I caught enough bits and pieces to gather that the associate needed to change department’s or possibly shifts. She had been visibly brooding over some misfortune for the past few days and I was sure that the two were related. One thing was for certain: the woman was using the company’s Open Door Policy by skipping her immediate supervisor and taking the issue directly to management. At WAL-MART there is an Open Door Policy in place that allows an associate to bring an issue to any member of management, all the way up to the CEO Lee Scott in Bentonville, without fear of retaliation.
As the associate continued to speak, the manager from Department 65 (WAL-MART’s secret code name for store security) walked through the empty adjacent register, studying the conversation taking place in front of her. The woman from security then abruptly stopped behind the associate, turning on her tiptoes to face the Assistant Manager and catch his eye. In a single exaggerated motion she signaled to him by cutting her throat with her index finger, disappearing as quickly as she had come. Looking back at the Assistant Manager in disbelief I saw that he was still earnestly nodding to the associate’s story, never once breaking character. The message being conveyed was immediately clear: don’t listen to a word she is saying. What I had witnessed was two members of management failing to respect the Open Door, and as a result the sales associate was never given a fair hearing. By the middle of the following week the associate was gone; whether she quit or was fired I never found out.
For management to not take an employees complaint seriously in my store is hardly noteworthy; it is just rarely so blatant. The Open Door Policy is a sham that is mainly used as a tool by the home office to discourage associates from seeking a union. The logic goes that if an associate can bring any problem to management without being retaliated against, why would anyone need a third party to represent them? During unionizing efforts WAL-MART throws this message into overdrive, distributing buttons that read “I can speak for myself!” The problem with this, of course, is that associates will be retaliated against when using the Open Door. No associate with half a brain would bring up a serious complaint about a supervisor or the company a whole through the policy. Best case scenario is that you would be ignored; worst case is that you would be fired. As one of my fellow cashiers advised me, you can get by here just as long as you “play their game, and don’t rock the boat too much.”
Thursday, February 02, 2006
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31 comments:
I worked as an over night cashier for many years. I was also an overnight CSM. Which I was never paid for. I had to work with a grey haired lady that was rude, racist, cheated customers and yelled at employees in front of customers. I went to management about the problem they told her and it got worse. My doctor sent a letter to them that he did not want we working as a cashier due to Post tramatic Stress, They told me I could only work as a cashier on days. There were plenty of stocking jobs overnight. The problem was no one wanted to be a cashier. You always had to worry if you would have a job the next day. Since I had another full time job I decided To tell them where to go and left. I then wrote the main office, the district office about the store practices. Nothing was done. I do get a laugh now. They can't get workers, the lines are long and people are shopping elsewhere because of what I found.
Trust me... DO NOT use the open door policy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i did. and i ended up the guilty one and got a write up! they changed everything around and made me to be the trouble maker! the manager was pissed off because he had to do a bunch of paperwork and interviews because of my complaining to the ceo! keep your mouth shut or lose your job! thats how i see it.
best regards by a shafted employee.
I am an hourly supervisor...team lead if you will from SAMS store 4703. I feel that I was approached to delete some sick time. There was a call-in to the Cafe. I ...just returned to work from having a seizure at work...was told to work in the cafe for several hours and then to return to the bakery(my department) and finish up....I estimate that this would have required as many hours as I donated to the cafe....thus elongating my work day and subtracting from sicktime already credited to my paycheck....What's up with that????? Will now contact a labor law attorney.. Being in the upper income bracket this will indeed become a reality.....
I just don't know what to say
I work currently as a 2nd shift stocker and have been since 12-06. The orginal store I worked at paid more money and I didn't have to work as hard but I did work. Now the store I transfered to I get paid less and I work harder than ever. I was told the only way I could get back the pay I lost would be to go to over nights. When I started at the second store the crew was at least ten people now were down to 3 and 4 people at a time on a good day maybe 5.
well i just got terminated from walmart because i was told at the open door policy that i touched a female in the boob with my i was shock one because im gay and two why wouldi touch anyone you. well I tried toappeal my termination which they denied and told me that what i did was wrong i strongly told them that what ever happen was an accedent. they said if it was even on accedent it is still sexual harassment. Im still confuse after asking to view the tape and complaints they still wouldnt allow me toview the tape. Im also wondering why inthe world will two managers change there stories telling me that i touched her with my hand to i bumped into her with my arm. the associate that reported me and all the employees working there knew how much i made i made $9.40 as a photo technician. I didnt purposally touch her on purpose or to be sexaul i even said i was sorry and that it was an accident. Dont u think im should be aloud to see the tape and the complaints to face the person that got me fired. This is affecting me in alot of ways. Walmart did me wrong. they also said that the cbls tell you what sexual harassment is and that its there for you toknow whatit is, but what i dont get is when i told them that the cbls dont tell u that you cant touch someone to get there attention. they said even touching shoulder to shoulder is sexual harassment. I believe these peopleare lieing and dont want to face up to them that they are wrong.
my son just got fired from walmart,because he asked the supervisor if he could be transferred to another department.my son had worked in the same department for over a year stocking shelves helping customers from talking to other people he did a very good job. my son is very smart with a very high iq but is very shy. He did very well working with customers one on one he knew the store and knew the products he gave very good customer service something that is hard to find these days,then for some reason the supervisors took him away from his department and put him at the front of the store as a cahier now anybody who is shy knows this is not good,he pleaded with the supervisors to put him back or put him in any department they refused to even listen to him insted they fired him then had enough nerve to tell him he would never be able to work at another walmart again , he is leaving for college soon and his lifelong dream is not to work at walmart do these supervisors even know how stupid they sound when they tell someone that smart they will never be employed by walmart again.there is no open door policy at walmart and the so called supervisors is the reason ther is no customer service
the real world isnt perfect, i guess your son couldnt hack the extremely tough task of being a wal-mart cashier
Just "terminated" by the evil empire myself, I could tell 1000's of tales of reverse discrimination (as it is called today if black men talking to white women about the size of their penis qualifies) blatant safety violations (eye wash stations, fire exits blocked by freight and/or electric jacks), management coercing (refreshing memory they call it) associates, and I must be PC here... management saying one thing while smiling in your face while twisting a knife in your back, is that PC?
To all thoses employed by Walmart....do not use the Open Door policy
I am a cashier at Walmart. I used the open door policy to report a CSM who ordered me to do something that was against Walmart policy and WIC policy. When I first reported the incident, I did it to cover myself incase there was any problems concerning the transaction. I wasn' looking for glory or any action on the part of Walmart against the CSM. A week later I was brought into the office and told that they had had several complaints about my personal hygience. "My what?" I asked. I was told specifically my offensive body odor. I was never so insulted in my life. I responded that I didn't understand. The assistant manager and the head CSM then told me that they had had a male associate once that had a strong offensive body odor and that all it was was that he needed to use vinegar in his laundry. Now I was being compared to a man. Even more insulting. The assistant manager told me that she was a "policy person." That you can't be held liable for breaking policy if you don't know policy. She then handed me "company policy" concerning Dress Code and Personal Hygience. Now everything I do some CSM has something to say and "company policy" is always being thrown in my face. My work environment has become so hostile that I almost want to quit.
i have a question about a certain walmart it number 3492 why do the have certin rules for certain worker and certain for other the y let some csms and worker come to work 15 to 30 minutes late everyday but others the write up and they get coached and the get d-days why is that i don't think that is right
Well, im currently working at Gay-mart. When using the Open door policy use caution because snakes do bite. When I endure a problem that I think is too much, I'll just quit.
i work at yarmouth walmart in canada nova scotia and they treat me wonderful and the custermers and workers wonderful,i have used an open door policy and it went great i also have many medical problems and they understand so i wish people would stop putting down all walmarts because theyre not all bad especially yarmouth one and the store manager is wonderful our walmart is one big family everyone looks out for each other and if someone leaves we get choked up and will miss them
My Husband works for Wal-Mart in there Transportation Shop and they voted for or against the 4/10 and 3/12 shifts. My husband is currently on day shift he voted NO for the shift change along with 6 others and 14 voted for it. The voted for this 4 wks ago then the came a month later and told him he was going to start nights in two weeks. At this time my son had just started his speech therapy and my husband had off on Friday so we set it up to be on Fridays. He also was told that two of the guys would be staying where they were, that they said they would quit if Wal-Mart moved them to the new shift. My husband was told no exceptions when the voted for the 4/10 and 3/12 shift. So he went to the Open Door Policy that didn’t work because he didn’t tell him he was going to quit which if you ask me is Total BULLSHIT…. So needless anyone have any ideas?
I just got fired a week ago from store 2187. I'll be the first to admit that it was partly my fault, but the main reason was that my supervisor took a personal dislike to me. Also, she seems to discriminate against females. All the males working in my department did exactly the same stuff and they haven't even got a coaching. Also, one of the venders was complaining about me directly to my supervisor. I overheard her doing it twice. I believe that this was a big factor in my termination.
My whole point in writing this post is to say this; I'm not going to take it. The rest of you posting here shouldn't either. We have to find some way to put an end to this, or at least make management think twice before screwing us over.
I am currently a cashier at wal-mart, store number 1185. That store is said to be the one that makes the most money which I have no idea if is true or not. I've been working for them for about two weeks, I still haven't got my first check yet, and I already hate working at that place. The members of management are all big assholes and treat all their associates like slaves, they give you attitudes and don't care at all. I had already worked for them before for around 6 months 2 years ago when I was still a minor. I worked as a truck unloader and after many consecutive 'issues' I decided to quit. I only decided to go back because they do pay more than other retail stores. Anyway my point is I also used the open door policy and I can tell you right now they wipe their asses with it. They make your life miserable to make you quit and they're doing the same thing now. I'm only waiting for about three months to quit as soon as I manage to get a new job elsewhere, otherwise I'll get sick from stress and frustration.
I'm an unloader, and because of the Open Door I'm about to lose my job...there's a lot of drama that goes on back there, so there was an investigation, multiple ones, and me and my co-workers discussed what happened when we were questioned. Of course, getting fired from Wal-Mart, who's going to want to hire you after that?
I work at a supercenter. I've been there for about 6yrs. Worked my way up to dept. manager. I do a good job. Every evaluation has been good or great. I don't call in or miss. I plan and follow the rules.
Lately management has been cold and hostile towards me for no reason. The other day I got called into the office and coach for my job peformance. All the customers and associates would tell you that I'm a hard worker.
I found out the previous dept. manger want their job back. They've been with the store since it open and is part of the major-clique there. I know I'm being railroaded. What are my options? I can't afford to be fired with the economy so bad. I welcome all feedback. I was going to use the open door policy, but after reading these comments I'm sacred.
The CBL's not only train you that touching someone is sexual harassment, but that merely LOOKING at someone is sexual harassment. They even have a photo example of an elderly "associate" looking at someone in a seemingly harmless manner, and if you click that photo as "correct", you're marked as wrong (opposed to the correct "handshake" photo).
Make eye contact and smile, but never under any circumstances should you LOOK at anyone!
As far as the "open door" policy, even if you don't agree, this is true: If they have to play a propaganda video (eg. anti-union), they're using a form of brain-washing. As for buttons that say "I can speak for myself", yeah, that's true, but unlike a union, you can be retaliated against for doing it.
A union has power in that it can make all of it's members not attend work, and the company can not legally fire those who are on strike.
The open door policy has no such power, and you'll likely red flag yourself to the manager (or pool of managers) and his peers who may consider the associate in question a good friend (and thus not appreciating any complaint made even if it has good intentions). If you complain about one person, in their eyes, you're likely to complain about another.
If you must work for Walmart, keep your mouth shut except in cases where you will be in severe legal trouble if you don't.
Ok, well you've all convinced me not to use the open door policy! LOL I was seriously thinking about using it because we have some very slow CSMs, in fact slow enough for it to affect customers in a negative way. They are slow to respond to a cashier's needs which frustrates customers because they have to wait in line until a cashier gets change, a roll of register tape, etc.
We also have a manager who is as rude as rude can be, in front of and to customers!
But for now, I'll keep my mouth closed I suppose!
LOL!!! Open Door Policy is a joke.And ex-co worker was right, if you play the game, you will get noticed and you will start getting the promotions.
In my store, some associates get promoted just because Management did like them. Associates get promoted to some positions they didn't even apply for.
Management came to them and asked them to apply and next thing you know.......they have the job. It's life at Wal-Mart. They like you, you'll be successful there, they don't like you,you'll get fired.
Don't waste your time, using their OPEN DOOR POLICY.
to all those who complain: be thankful you have a job or get an education and be part of the elite.
Anonymous said...
The WHOLE WAL-MART OPEN DOOR POLICY IS A BIG JOKE!
The bottom line is ... if you don't play the game the way they want you to your gone..!
They will try and cover up anything and everything to protect the image of Wal-Mart
the reason they can treat you like this is because no one sticks togather my son is being dumped on and im not planning on letting it go you know they are lawyers out there and if everyone joins togather something would happen go to newspapers make as much noise as you can don't let them keep ruling the laws you have rights there is a labor board and other help if everyone would flood all these people they would have to do something noise makes headlines and headlines catch peoples eyes and everyone will start seeing whats going on they are a lot of kids that work there parents need to know walmart does not care about thier health or well being some parents do care and they have a home office who has made it clear they don't care either so people can start seeing what a people company they really are and that so called ceo im sure knows how to log on here and see all this has he contacted any of you out there no because they only care about people when they are in their store spending money so yes people needs to send them a very loud message don't seem to have forgotten the workers is what keeps them going so all you do have the upper hand you have family and friends tell them to shop some where else hit them where it hurts spread the word to everyone everywhere workers have rights too them need to know that the bigger they are the harder they fall and no one is to big to fall no one the dumb members of management needs to know they could be next what goes around comes around and the store in avon park fla has a number of management that will be on the chopping block because i will not let this go you don't mess with a mothers child and i wish they would fire him that will bring more issues in to play they give these young dumb so called grown ups in management and it goes to thier head and tells people dumb things that can kill you and yes its all being reported to the right agencies so if you are really tired of it lets start showing them NO MORE
we would love to hear from the ceo of wal mart prove you are a people company the people are waiting 8 13 09 lets see people if he cares everyone mark this date down
Let me tell you a thing or two about working at Wal-Mart. It's straight BULLSHIT. Yes, I m very thankful to have a job in this time, but what is the use of the CBL's if no one follows them? I mean from day one I felt like I was apart of some damm cult of some sort. And by God if you tried to disassociate yourself from their mess it's like they went after you more. Thankfully some other like minded people decided to take matters in our own hands. FIRE US! We come prepared for the shit now! In this time while people are faking falls, stealing ( or having family come in to do it ),Giving underserving ASSoicates promotions, and what not. The ones in this store that are getting the out of the blue coachings, beyond extra work 15 min. before it's time to clock out( so if you're not done, or if you run over your time someone IS going to say something to you!) Watch what you say or what you have us to sign or not to sign!
I was called for an interview for a position in dairy at the Houston, MO Walmart store #166 in June of this year. At the time I was collecting unemployment which would have ended in February of 2010. Knowing that it is very difficult to find a job in February I was happy to have this opportunity come.
After a favorable interview and tentative assurance that I had the job, I was told to wait and the interviewer would “run me thru the computer” and return. She came back and told me that someone from personnel wanted to speak with me and would I please wait. Teresa, from personnel, came and spoke with me. She asked if I could would be willing to take a job as cashier. I told her that I really did not want to be a cashier but if that was all that she could offer me it was better than no job. She then asked if I could work nights. I told her that I did not want to work nights and would rather wait for a different position to come available. She said that she had a girl she wanted to hire that could not work nights and wanted to give her the position in dairy. She said the important thing for me was to “get you hired” and that as soon as a position came up that I wanted I could put in for it. She explained that she had a cashier position open overnight and that it is very hard for her to fill the overnight slots. She then explained the benefits of working overnight. Her benefits were as follows:
1. Extra wage compensation
2. Set schedule, work Thursday thru Sunday 8 hours each day every week and every Monday thru Wednesday off, I would work 9-6 some days and 10-7 others
3. I would be allowed to wear blue jeans on third shift.
I thanked her and told her that the set schedule was a good thing because it would make it easier to find another part time job to work with this one. I cannot live on part time wages from one job. The three days off in a row would help tremendously. I told her that I did not want to take the job under false pretenses and made it clear that I would put in for a different position as soon as one was available. She said she understood. Overnights is a difficult time to adjust to.
My first day of work was 7/2/2009. I have since discovered a few things:
1. I cannot put in for another position until I have been on this job for 6 months!
2. I will not get 3 days off in a row nor will I have the same schedule every week.
3. I cannot wear blue jeans as a cashier. ( I do not care. I only own one pair so it is not an issue)
I cannot help but feel that I was lied to and coerced into accepting the job for the purpose of having the position filled before the new night manager took over.
I spoke to my manager about the schedule change. His explanation for the change was that trucks come in on Saturdays and Mondays and he needs me then and refused to give me my days off in a row. The truck arrival days are the same as they were before I was hired. This is not a change so my schedule should not have changed.
The schedule was the deciding factor on my acceptance of this position. I would have kept my unemployment and continued searching for another job if I knew then what I know now! I feel Walmart should be accountable for what is promised by personnel during the hiring process.
A co-worker of mine just got fired for the wrong reason...and tried calling the store manager to strighten things out... for two months that she tried to get a hold of him...she couldn't and was told she had to make an appontment to see him. She got fed up with it and went in to talk to her in person. he yelled at her and said the open door policy only lasts two months and he DOUBTS she even tried getting a hold of him...and was told he couldnt help her bc she was wrong.... but the funny thing is WHY Did SHE RECEIVE A LETTER STATING SHE WAS FIRED FOR THE WRONG REASONS AND IS ABLE TO RECIEVE UNEMPLOYMENT.... stupid huh
My daughter works for Sams Club East Towne in Knoxville, TN. She started receiving sexually suggestive texts from a shift leader in her store. After trying to deal with it on her own, she finally broke down in tears and told us what was happening. We suggested she go to the manager and let him know what was going on. BIG MISTAKE!! The "Open Door" policy is worthless at Sams Club!! She has been dragged into meeting after meeting where they badger her to no end. The manager at Sams East Towne accused her of wanting a relationship and bringing this on herself. I researched Wal-Marts Ethics Policy and it states exactly what Harassment is and what is considered examples. One is "suggestive communications." Well her texts are filthy with sexualy comments. So I'm at a loss to understand how this is her fault. The manager does not see anything wrong with the shift leader wanting to "lick" my daughter and to.. other things I do not want to write. We will now take this to the Ethics Committee and if that does not help, we will be forced to tell our lawyer to proceed against Sams and the managers. So believe all these comments from people who work or have worked at Sams or Wal-Mart. The "Open Door" policy is a sham and you won't win. Wal-Mart should be ashamed. DO NOT WORK FOR THIS COMPANY!!
I feel stupid now reading all the post on here. I wish I would have known to keep my mouth shut. I now have a d-day for because I (did not have respect for the individual) in my email to my distict manager on a safty issue. I work in the tire lube express and when we do our first, hand tourque we are to only put the lift down so the tires just touch. To me this is a safty hazzard (ie) would you not put a jack down all the way while tightening your lugnuts on your car??? So in all my emails I always put on the top of them (OPEN DOOR LETTER) thinking I am safe NO NO NO. not safe almost fired. So now I need to right pretty much an im sorry for making you cry letter. DONT TRUST IN OPEN DOOR. 2509
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