Saturday, June 6, 2009

The Family Company that Isn't

I talked to two of my favorite associates at my friendly Walmart SuperCenter. One of them is a people greeter who gives new meaning to the word dedication. When she hired in as a cashier, she just didn't get it. Instead of giving up, she thought the problem might be her glasses. So she would work eight hours (that tells you how long ago this was) without her glasses, suffering ferocious head aches when she got home. Eventually she became a people greeter and the problem was solved. But this dedicated, hard working associate was given a point against her attendance record because she left earlier when the nursing home called to say that her 98 year old Mother might be dying. Is that big hearted or what? Mr. Sam would be so proud. The second lady told me that she is finally retiring in July. She isn't sure that she will be okay financially, but she is looking forward to spending the Holidays with her family instead of at Walmart. Her family is looking forward to it also. Other news included a woman who is being promoted into salaried management even though her sister still works in the store where she will be working. How does that work? Probably the same way that the old co-manager used to go to her son's ball games. Can you say fraternization? Me neither. Oh, well, what are you going to do? Most people that still have to work there are just trying to keep from going under. 34 hours in not full time, no matter what Walmart might tell you. So if you have an interesting experience to share send it to me. You'll thank me later.