Thursday, February 09, 2006

The Temp Trick

Quite possibly the most interesting revelation that I discovered in my time at WAL-MART was a devious scheme to control their new workers and deny them benefits. It is a slight of hand used by the store with its new hires and I am the perfect example of how this works.

As I mentioned before, I was hired as a temporary peak-time cashier, which means that the company can work me for as many or few hours as they want without providing benefits for three months. Ordinarily peak-time workers (which is the same as part-time) must wait for two years before becoming eligible for benefits; with this little trick that date is pushed back yet another three months. Just as significant is the fact that temporary workers aren’t peak-time or full-time, but rather any-time. If for example, I was hired as a permanent peak-time associate, I would be limited to working 32 hours per week. Due to my temp status, the store was not held to this threshold when scheduling me to work, a perk that they exercised during all 7 weeks of the peak holiday shopping season.

Not only this, but as a temporary worker I am only under contract for three months. WAL-MART sets a termination date for 90 days after being hired and is under no obligation to keep me on board. In essence the three months were a limbo period where I was forced to walk on eggshells in one marathon job interview. Inexplicably, in a lapse of judgment I had been lulled into believing my friends in the store when they reassured me that I would be kept on since I was such a hard worker. I was jarred back to reality a couple of weeks before Christmas when I overheard one of the CSM’s saying in a hushed tone that “We had a great group [of temporary hires] last year and they let them all go. And they were hiring again a month later.” With this I was forced into an exhausting guessing game of reading into the mixed messages of my co-workers. Once again, it isn’t hard to imagine the stress that this uncertainty would cause a low-wage worker who is trying to provide for his or her family. And it wasn’t until the day after Christmas that the Front-end Manager said as an afterthought on my way out the door that, congratulations, I would be staying on.

For these reasons, WAL-MART loves its temporary workers. So much so that it will use any excuse in order to get more of them. Mine was the rapidly approaching holiday shopping season that they desperately needed more cashiers for. But I would later find out that even the most flimsiest of occasions would serve as sufficient justification for not hiring permanent workers. For the previous half-year it had been the summer renovations that took place at the Supercenter, although the actual logic used by the store is unclear. Nearly all of the renovations were done by outside contractors with only the smallest of projects done by actual WAL-MART associates. This gap in logic was seemingly lost on the employees in the store who had been hired as temp workers, nearly all of whom dismissed the incident one big misunderstanding.

These aren’t theoreticals that I am speaking in; all of this did happen. I won’t be eligible for benefits until a staggering 820 days after my hire date. I worked as many as 46 hours in a week, even though I was hired as a peak-time worker. And most importantly, there was a Post-Christmas massacre at our WAL-MART Supercenter. I made the cut, but at least five of my fellow hires did not. There was the socially-awkward young man who I had painstakingly built a rapport with. Or the tough-looking but disarmingly polite teen. Or the tall, soft-spoken red-haired boy and the sadly forgettable girl. And most tragically, the friendly, emotional pregnant woman, who gave birth to a healthy young boy on Christmas Day. All five were young like myself, and perfectly capable cashiers in every sense as far as I could tell. And after slaving for months for WAL-MART Stores, Inc. all five were casualties of the temp trick on the day after Christmas. Two short weeks later the store would be hiring once again and the cycle started anew.

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

I work at Wal-Mart as a cashier and it is hard work! However, when a temporary worker is hired for peak-time in Wal-Mart, they are told they are a temporary employee over and over. Common sense tells you that, so why would one expect to be hired on?????

Anonymous said...

does walmart drug test temp workers?

Anonymous said...

киска молодой девочки фото http://free-3x.com/ малолетку видео free-3x.com/ порно молодые онлайн [url=http://free-3x.com/]free-3x.com[/url]

Anonymous said...

When temporary workers are hired, they sign a letter explaining their temporary hire details. If I were in need of a job, I would certainly rather work for 90 days rather than seek work for 90 days. I work in HR for Walmart and since we have such a big company, we will constantly be open to bad publicity. We currently have over 2 million employees, and that's better than being on unemployment benefits.

Anonymous said...

Imagine that, all but five of the temp workers were laid off, as promised, after the peak season. All had work to provide for their families for Christmas. Some, like you, even got overtime, meaning extra pay. None were promised that they'd stay on. The woman who gave birth on Christmas Day certainly wasn't looking to stay on after Christmas.

I have to agree with previous posters on other entries, you're a drama queen.

Anonymous said...

Yes! Walmart drug test the temps also. If your going to be a new hire or a rehire you still have to do a drug test. It's Walmart policy and procedure.

Anonymous said...

I was hired as a temp for a customer service manager and was told everyone coming aboard were temps while probationary time. I passed the drug test of course and then after 10 days was called in and told my temp position was completed, I said did I do something wrong, comment from boss, no, but you can reapply in 30 days. I don't get it, no I unemployed, surprised and had passed several other better paying jobs up and am astounded! I don't get it

Anonymous said...

lucid dreaming is one Method acting that revere of heights.

Lucid dreams are dreams that you very tangible and do
pass off to ordinary bicycle mass on a even foundation.
It's crucial to recollect that and maintain you in some ascendency and cognisance Piece dreaming. Did you here are some efficacious lucid dreaming tips to avail you get down.

Also visit my web site ... exploring world lucid dreaming stephen laberge phd
My web site - exploring world lucid dreaming stephen laberge phd

Anonymous said...

Pochissima frutta e operated on the same day and I do own a lot of things to
do. Lipoma in the arm surgical procedure of course of action aspirate canine limomas to trim down their flock?
Although not specially serious, prevention would look his strong-arm activities to check that In that location is no
inordinateness fat stored in his organic structure.

my web-site - lipoma alternative treatment

Anonymous said...

Sean Harper, brain of research and development at
Amgen, said behind your high gear cholesterol levels, medication is necessary for you.
The Early end to the HDL and LDL intervention Strategies demonstrated to own
a striking impression on cholesterol levels is Policosanol.


Feel free to surf to my web blog: hospital cholesterol treatment center concord
Also see my site > Hospital Cholesterol Treatment Center Concord

Anonymous said...

We did not crusade from blogging macrocosm but I harbor't completely dropped off the Side of blogging world. Adjustment can likewise be to $3000 from this virtually popular Method of blog monetisation.

Also visit my webpage ... click here

Anonymous said...

The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of
Science and Technology under the Government of India is responsible for the regulation,
formulation and implementation of biotechnology courses in India.
They give hope to the sufferers of many incurable and unstoppable diseases
ravaging the population, such as cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other grave conditions. In the manufacturing of food, pharmaceuticals or cosmetics, assuring quality control is a top-notch priority.

Here is my page 1

Anonymous said...

Thus, there are many broad options for getting to know various kinds of news today
and that too through the use of various mediums.

Office goers and people who are travelling often do not get time to read news from the newspaper or watch it
to get good information they could subscribe for sports SMS alerts.
Committee on Gulf War and Health: Health Effects of Serving in the Gulf
War, Update 2009.

My webpage; Latest Daily News

Anonymous said...

The Center suрplіes а unique, multidisсiplіnary ωay of reѕearch, offerіng exciting nеw opportunities foг іnnovatіоn by integrating anаlytісal аnd quаntitative еngineеring apρrοacheѕ ωith procesѕ-ԁriνеn and fielԁ-bаsed busіneѕs геѕeаrch.
To гemаin succeѕѕful, cоmpanies
need bеst-οf-breed Suρply Chain Managеment.

Thе lаtest persоnаl eсοnomiс сertainty we're fighting is commonly making enterprises to start being more affordable.

My website; what kind of jobs can i get with a supply chain management degree

Anonymous said...

Countless teenage parties have been spiced up by this funny little game, and countless adolescent mischiefs have amused millions of young
people. That is why we have dedicated this page to help you renew
your spirit and perhaps have a few laughs too. Make your Myspace
profile look cool and leave your friends Funny Myspace
Comments and Glitter Graphics.

Here is my blog post; funny pictures animals cats

Anonymous said...

Exercise can help to avoid menopause weight gain and reduce
other risks including osteoporosis, heart disease, and arthritis.
We know because they have done so for millions of other
people. The decisive factor is that men would want to show themselves
as hot and rock solid before the fashionable ladies as ever.


Feel free to visit my web-site Highly recommended Resource site

Anonymous said...

Instead of eating to make yourself feel better find
other methods to cope. You may want to try the buddy system,
as lot of people find that this motivates them tremendously.
Take note also that you know how to perform the exercise well to avoid sickness and injuries in the
future.

Visit my weblog ... http://international.aulaweb.unige.it

Anonymous said...

you'll be able to choose out your funny image as per your want and interest. The first lesson is that life can be humorous and fun again when you make time to play. Use old fabric to create puppets, monsters, and any other creatures that your child can imagine.

Here is my blog; opengrad.org/link/141

Anonymous said...

You will find the most updated news being uploaded or published
in blogs and celeb news sites. Talking of the walking dead, congratulations to
Hugh Hefner, who is getting married at age 84 to 24-year-old beauty Crystal Harris.

As a consequence it can be contended the media is directing many persons astray moving away from what should
be its aim of presenting discerning news and analytic thinking of pressing topics for this celebrity frippery.



Feel free to surf to my web page; latest celeb news

Anonymous said...

Or are you looking for some funny images for your desktop or mobile phone wallpaper.
The goal with a funny picture is to have the photograph
be almost a blank canvas for you to put the punch line on.
Some programs allow a user to make the same
post on multiple websites simultaneously.

Here is my blog - simply click the next website page

Anonymous said...

"Both Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama began their adult lives having a leg up for the rest of America. It is important which you do our homework and learn everything there would be to know about the modeling industry should you wish to go up as a career. With due effort, they make an attempt to collect the SAIL placement papers and prepare the last year's questions.

Feel free to visit my site; a kind-hearted posts about average court reporter salary in florida

Anonymous said...

Hello to all, itís genuinely a pleasant for me
to visit this site, it contains important Information.

My blog: fitness tips women

Anonymous said...

I was more thаn hаppy to disсoѵer this web sіte.

I ωanted tо thank you for your time for thіs ρarticulaгly wοndeгful reаd!
! I dеfіnitely apρreciateԁ eѵeгy bit of
іt аnd i аlso haѵe уou boоk-marked to see new stuff
on your webѕitе.

mу blog post :: Kitty Degree Real Estate

Anonymous said...

Wondеrful work! This is the tуpe of іnfo that
аre suppοsed to be shагed around the internet.
Shamе оn Google for no longer positiοnіng thiѕ put
up uρрer! Come on oѵег and
discuss with mу site . Thanκ you =)

Нere іs my wеb site: mcdonald local schools fiscal emergency

Anonymous said...

Remarkable! Its actually amazing article, I have
got much clear idea on the topic of from this article.


Have a look at my web page airplane Games simulator

Anonymous said...

i have to say i must work at a wonderful walmart lol because i am temporary and if i need more hours all i have to do is ask management and they give them too me ive been temporary and going on 6 months :) very pleased may i add

Anonymous said...

My roommate was hired as temporary at walmart and told that it was for a max of 90 days at which time she would become permanent or let go, then it was extended to four months and now is extended to six months. During this time she cannot ask for days off, or change her availability. So the myth that it last for 90 is just that a myth, unless someone else can find any laws pertaining to temporary workers. We fully expect them to extend the time frame for her to remain temporary again.

Anonymous said...

So what , that doesn't make it right. Your job is in jeopordy because they could simply fire you and replace you with a temp for less pay. I don't care how good of a worker you are and neither do they it's all about money open your eyes.

Anonymous said...

I just got hired in as a temp. They tell you 90 days and you might get hired on. You can ask for days off because I already have one day for my daughters school stuff. all I can say is that I can't complain i'm really not making that bad of money (9.35) and it puts food on the table and pays my bills I am getting some good hours as well.

Anonymous said...

You ought to take part in a contest for one of
the greatest blogs on the web. I most certainly will recommend this website!


My site - softaculous.com

Anonymous said...

I was hired on to Wal-Mart as a temp cashier for "holiday help". I accepted a "temp" position. However.... I was told over and over by many CSMs, seasoned associates and even a salaried member of management that "If you do a good job, they'll hire you permanent after your 90 days are up". 90 days came and went... nothing. Six months in, I started getting the message that my badge would expire in a few days. "Oh, don't worry about it, everyone's does." is the responses I got. The day before it expired I was told "You're rolling over to a permanent associate but your time starts over." Meaning that the past six months earned me nothing but the discount card. One week after this so-called roll over I was informed that no, that is no longer true. I'm still a temp with no hope of transfer, raises or any benefits of any kind. There are associates that are approaching their year anniversary date who are just finding out that they are indeed still temps and have earned nothing but the hourly minimum wage rate they started with.

Anonymous said...

i've been a temp for about a month and a half and took the job simply to make some cash while i was home from college for the summer, of course i didn't tell them that in the interviews though. anyway, knowing that i'll be gone by august, i've already called off twice - about 3 weeks or so apart. i just want to know, do they evaluate you from temp to full after the 90 days or is it whenever they want? i just want to know so i can put in my two weeks before they let me go just in case for some magical reason i ever decide to add this job to my resume.

Anonymous said...

I worked for Wal-Mart as a seasonal employee and in the orientation they paint this big picture of how you can move up in the company, but the truth is that hey use the good workers and give them a sense of hope they might be hired on after the 90 day's. Chances are the only ones that will be hired on are the friends or family members of management. Being a Temp is a great way to earn some money for a short period of time, but don't let the Managers use you, just work your 90 days and move on!

Anonymous said...

.......it isn't only Wal-Mart that does this temporary contract hiring. Many places are doing this to avoid taking people on permanently and paying benefits. Although it would be nice to find somewhere permanent, I was grateful to have worked my 90 day's and would definitely go back again!

Unknown said...

Can a temp be fired in their 90 days for refusing to do someone else's job

Anonymous said...

ӏ’m not sure ωhеre you’гe getting уour іnfо, but grеаt tορіc.

I neеds to ѕpend ѕоme time learning more
or unԁerstanԁіng morе. Thanks for ωоndeгful infοrmation I was loοkіng foг thiѕ іnfоrmаtiоn for
my mіѕsion.

My wеb ѕite organic pοttіng soil (http://www.sourceforts2.com)

Anonymous said...

Wonԁerful аrtіcle! This
іs the type of іnfoгmatіon that arе meаnt to
bе shared acrοsѕ the wеb.
Shame οn the sееk enginеs fοr no longеr positioning this рost
uрρer! Ϲome on ovег anԁ seeκ
aԁѵice from mу site . Thаnk yοu =)

Tаke a lοoκ аt my weblog; losing weight after 50

Anonymous said...

Yes. A temporary employee can be let go at anytime. That is the purpose for hiring temp employees. I worked for WAL-MART. It is a job, nothing special. I find Management very uneducated. My Manager said retail is the only industry left where he can move up to store manager without a HS diploma. Goodluck with that one!!! LOL

Anonymous said...

I was recently terminated from a temp spot at a local Walmart......what is the correct rehire process?? Do I wait 30 days or 6 months to reapply?

ImOnlyHuMAn said...

They did the same thing to me last night but my manager so rude about it and said it in front of the other employees.

ImOnlyHuMAn said...

They did the same thing to me last night but my manager so rude about it and said it in front of the other employees.

Unknown said...

Yea they test everyone

Anonymous said...

Okay so this is super late and no one will probably read this but I just got a call for an interview (it is July not around the holidays) and said right now they are hiring seasonal but it may become permanent. On the application I said I was looking for full or part-time NOT temporary. I may have to take it though but I have a couple other job interviews this week as well. I was researching though and apparently now walmart is pretty much (other than management) ONLY hiring temporary positions. I understand during holidays and the like but this is getting ridiculous. I hate turning down a job because I DO need money but I never wanted to work at walmart to begin with. It was just a back up job. I've worked in management at other places so to be a temp associate just kind of erks me but I may have to take it.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

This was just like reading my own story except it was Lowes. Lowes did the same thing to me, they hired me on for 6 months but I hoped if I worked hard they would keep me. I worked my butt off, in 6 months I never called out and was ever late. Everyone told me I would be kept too, and they even scheduled me 2 weeks after my end date- only to tell me that it was a mistake and not to come back.

Anonymous said...

Thats a lie.
Im a new hire...smoke a tonne of pot(have to..to work at walmart)..and nwver and testing

Anonymous said...

I was hired as a temp worker and that is what was told to me in interviews----you are seasonal temporary----no guarantees!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Walmart is a great place to work!!!!!! I think the managers are great!!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

What a flake,to read what the HR person from walmart had to say about this cowardly business practice "better to work for 90 days than to be unemployed for 90 days"???makes me want to puke.I was a big WM supporter until my 18 year old daughter came home from work with tears in her eyes and after a very little research I find out that WM is not what they pretend to be,they are just a bunch of schmucks.They use to have a tiny bit of heart,they use to wait at least a month before they put up the help wanted sign after firing all of there temps,now they don't even take down the help wanted sign,,,no wonder so many people hate WALMART.

Unknown said...

Gunung bromo merupakan gunung eksotis yang ada di jawa timur dan sangat cocok dijadikan tempat berbulan madu bagi pasangan baru. Banyak tempat romantis yang tentu akan menjadikan anda terkenang seumur hidup. Banyak agen yang menyediakan paket honeymoon gunung bromo dengan durasi 2 hari 1 malam dan tentunya paket ini berfasilitas yang sangat mewah. Masalah harga nanti bisa dinego dengan pihak agen travel. Paket wisata honeymoon gunung bromo 2 hari 1 malam info lengkapnya wisata bromo tour.

Malang Transport merupakan perusahaan yang bergerak di bidang jasa transportasi khususnya sewa menyewa mobil di kota malang. Perusahaan tempat rental mobil di malang ini banyak memiliki kantor yang bertebaran di berbagai sudut kota malang batu. Entah tempat sewa mobil malang itu milik perseorangan atau milik perusahaan. Info harga rental mobil di malang transport bisa anda klik rental mobil wisata di malang batu.

Kota surabaya memang menjadi kota terbesar kedua di Indonesia. Banyak perusahaan besar dan kantor-kantor pemerintahan yang berdiri di kota yang sangat padat ini. Jika anda sedang berkunjung ke kota surabaya untuk urusan pekerjaan dan membutuhkan jasa transportasi sewa mobil di surabaya maka anda bisa datang ke kantor Madas Trans di daerah surabaya barat. Tempat sewa mobil murah Madas Trans Surabaya menyediakan beragam armada pilihan yang bisa anda pilih sesuai keinginan anda. Info detail sewa mobil surabaya dan rental mobil murah kota surabaya baca di sewa mobil murah kota surabaya.

Yogyakarta sangat terkenal dengan kota pendidikannya. Banyak mahasiswa rantauan yang datang ke Jogja untuk menuntut ilmu. Jika anda termasuk salah satu rantauan di jogja dan sedang membutuhkan jasa sewa mobil murah di jogja maka silahkan datang ke tempat jasa sewa mobil murah jogja di Safa Transport. Banyak tersedia mobil terbaru dengan harga sewa yang murah dan cukup bersahabat dengan kantong mahasiswa. Info lengkapnya tentang sewa mobil murah di jogja baca di rental mobil di jogja harga murah.

Anonymous said...

I was hired as a temporary remodel associate in August. In October I was told that I was hired in permanent.They even sent me a discount card, which you don't get as a temp. I worked for 2 weeks after the remodel was complete and then was taken off the schedule for 3 weeks. According to HR, "we can do that because you are a temporary employee". She also said that they have to cut hours every year at this time.......really! every year just in time for Black Friday and the set up of Christmas decor and such? I don't think so!

Anonymous said...

I second that. Although if you get hurt on site they do test you.

Anonymous said...

I worked for Walmart as a temporary associate but now I got let go because of my attentence and one of them should not have counted cause my three year old daughter was sick had a fever of 103 and I had to go home early and I have one car she could have died and two they fold me doctors notes do not count

Unknown said...

No they do not!! I live in Florida and I just got the temp job and I was not drug tested

Unknown said...

Thats a lie I just got hired on as a temp in Florida and I was not drug tested so that's BS!