Wal-Mart pledges to hire any returning veteran who wants a job

[Deberg_1990]

In a speech to the National Retail Federation in New York on Tuesday, Chief Executive Bill Simon said the company would hire any returning veteran who wanted a job. He also said the company would buy more products from the U.S. and help more employees become full time.

It was the 2012 election and the gridlock in Congress that motivated Simon to introduce these initiatives, he said.

“The election clarified for me that it’s time for those of us outside politics to get to work,” he said. “I find it fascinating that during the campaign we all waited with bated breath each month for the government to tell us how many private-sector jobs were created. After all, it’s the private sector that creates jobs.”

Wal-Mart said it plans to hire more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years as part of a program to offer a job to “any honorably discharged veteran in his or her first 12 months off active duty.” Simon said veterans are often good employees, and that his company plans to begin hiring them after Memorial Day.

“Not every returning veterans wants to work in retail,” he said. “But every veteran who does will have a place to go.”

Veterans will be placed in jobs in stores, clubs, distribution centers and in the corporate office, he said.

"Hiring a veteran can be one of the best decisions any of us can make," he said. "Veterans have a record of performance under pressure. They're quick leaders and they're team players."



http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...,3835656.story

[Direckshun]

Not even kidding, I was seconds away from posting this.

It's a PR gesture, but I don't give a shit. It's a guaranteed backup job at the LEAST for folks who put their asses on the line for us.

Bravo.

[listopencil]

In my experience Wal Mart loves to hire vets and has been doing that. Bear in mind that the Wal Mart employees that you interact with as a customer are by no means representative of the total company labor pool or management staff.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

In a speech to the National Retail Federation in New York on Tuesday, Chief Executive Bill Simon said the company would hire any returning veteran who wanted a job. He also said the company would buy more products from the U.S. and help more employees become full time.
It was the 2012 election and the gridlock in Congress that motivated Simon to introduce these initiatives, he said.

“The election clarified for me that it’s time for those of us outside politics to get to work,” he said. “I find it fascinating that during the campaign we all waited with bated breath each month for the government to tell us how many private-sector jobs were created. After all, it’s the private sector that creates jobs.”

Wal-Mart said it plans to hire more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years as part of a program to offer a job to “any honorably discharged veteran in his or her first 12 months off active duty.” Simon said veterans are often good employees, and that his company plans to begin hiring them after Memorial Day.

“Not every returning veterans wants to work in retail,” he said. “But every veteran who does will have a place to go.”

Veterans will be placed in jobs in stores, clubs, distribution centers and in the corporate office, he said.

"Hiring a veteran can be one of the best decisions any of us can make," he said. "Veterans have a record of performance under pressure. They're quick leaders and they're team players."



http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...,3835656.story

The bolded part is what I took as the most "innovative" idea for Wal-mart. It is a good move in general though.

[Buzz_TinBalls]

Between Wallyworld & Academi Corp. the safety net of post military life is set.

The rest of you americans can rot in hell.

[PunkinDrublic]

Yay poverty level wages!

[frazod]

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

Yay poverty level wages!

God knows they'll be used to it.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

Yay poverty level wages!

It's not a bad deal if they're using the GI bill to go to college while they're working.

[dirk digler]

That is pretty cool. Good job Walmart

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Good for Walmart. I avoid the place any chance I get, but I will feel better about the dollars I do spend with them now.

[FishingRod]

Not a big Fan of Wal-mart but a tip of the cap to them on this one. There are people this will help

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

Yay poverty level wages!

How much money should a person get for ringing up sales on a cash register using printed bar codes, or putting merchandise on a shelf? As much as a doctor? As much as a successful lawyer? There are many more jobs at Wal Mart other than at the stores. They pay several times the minimum wage. I have one.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

Yay poverty level wages!

Its unskilled labor. Should Wal Mart pay them 100k a year? Alot of these vets are still young kids. God forbid someone start at the bottom and work themselves up anymore. Or at least gives a vet a nice fall back option until something better comes along. Im no Wal Mart fan, but they deserve praise here.

[listopencil]

Oh, by the way, in case this isn't generally known about the founder of Wal Mart Sam Walton:

Walton joined JC Penney as a management trainee in Des Moines, Iowa^[7] three days after graduating from college.^[6] This position paid him $75 a month. He resigned in 1942 in anticipation of being inducted into the military for service in World War II.^[6] In the meantime, he worked at a DuPont munitions plant near Tulsa, Oklahoma. Soon afterwards, Walton joined the military in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, supervising security at aircraft plants and prisoner of war camps. In this position he served at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah. He eventually reached the rank of captain.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Walton

[PunkinDrublic]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Its unskilled labor. Should Wal Mart pay them 100k a year? Alot of these vets are still young kids. God forbid someone start at the bottom and work themselves up anymore. Or at least gives a vet a nice fall back option until something better comes along. Im no Wal Mart fan, but they deserve praise here.

Nobodies saying pay them $100k. Pay people a living wage. You can't work Wal- Mart full time and afford to pay rent.