Finally, from all places, Wal-Mart, some sanity re the treatment of employees.
Wal-Mart has long been the subject of derision from those who complain that it has replaced small stores (true) and that it has low-paying, dead-end jobs (if that was so, it isn’t any more – read on!)
By the way, critics are silent on the fact that Wal-Mart has lowered the cost of living for millions of people worldwide.
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal in the Sept 5-6 edition titled “Wal-Mart Tries to Skill Up”, “the company is testing a new approach: investing in workers through
- Higher wages and
- Training
On the theory that this will pay off all around
- For customers,
- For the company and
- For employees”
Image courtesy of jscreationzs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
They are providing extensive training of employees now right from the start. It’s in pilot now in Joplin, MO, but will be rolling out to all of its 4,500 stores by early 2016. By then, all but the newest employees will earn at least $10 per hour.
So we ask: Did Wal-Mart cave to those who’ve been complaining about low paying (dead-end) jobs at Wal-Mart? Or are they just making a smart business move based on the economics of attracting, keeping – and improving employees? We think it’s the latter.
The article goes on to reveal that Wal-Mart is trying to figure out a way where employees can get certification in retail from the program, a designation they can take with them if they leave the company.
Now that sounds like a Noble Enterprise to me!
Wow! This is good news, Dar. Thanks for sharing. I’m going to post this on my FB page! Take care!