I know that us Wal-Mart employees have quite the reputation because I'm reminded on a daily basis by customers. Granted, there are plenty of co-workers of mine who can't do their very base-line job and should probably just give up now, but for the most part, I'd say that employees aren't the problem. Not only do the ridiculous customers compel us to stop caring, but also the corporate monopoly that is Wal-Mart keeps us from enjoying our jobs as much as we may otherwise.
1. You work through the flu.
Wal-Mart does not accept being sick as a valid excuse to call out. For your first six months of employment, you are allowed 3.5 "points." For each call out, you receive a point, and you can be up to two hours late to receive half a point. Essentially, if you get the flu within your first six months, you can attempt to get an exemption through a different company that deals with leave of absence and such, but you'll have to go through stacks of paperwork, meet a specific deadline, and potentially not be approved. Now, after 6 months, you get bumped up to 8.5 points and your points roll over every six months; however, most people keep as many points as they can in fear of having to miss a day and being fired without hesitation.
2. You avoid customers.
It's polite to have a friendly smile and offer assistance, but you're not a true Wal-Mart employee until you start avoiding eye contact with the customers. I have walked all the way across the store to assist with something out of my department that I know nothing about. I have been asked a plethora of questions that require simply reading the box for the customer. I've been asked advice that simply isn't mine to give. After a bit, you stop wanting to help people because sometimes they're just too stupid to be in public.
3. You work all of the overtime you can.
Wal-Mart is very weird about their budget, and they tend to focus on the amount of overtime allotted. During Christmas, you can essentially work as many hours as your heart desires, but other than that, it's very rare to receive an overtime opportunity. For example, my department is currently severely understaffed, and we are therefore allotted unlimited overtime at the moment. The second we received the okay for overtime, management started hiring people. Soon, there won't be any overtime allowed, so if you're money hungry like me, you take what you can get while you can get it.
4. You can't just buy your groceries and leave.
A trip to Wal-Mart for anyone who doesn't work there can be as quick as needed, but when you work there, it's a whole different ballgame. First of all, you have to go home before grocery shopping. Forget knocking it out right after work. If you want to shop without being asked a million questions, you better change out of the uniform or you'll never get to leave. On top of that, a shit ton of coworkers, half of whom you don't even actually like, will stop you and talk to you like you don't have things to do. It's honestly just easier to go to Target.
5. You complain about your discount.
A 10% discount is totally okay aside from the fact that you can't use it on groceries. The one thing that I need to survive is exempt from being discounted unless it's November or December. Granted, I'll take what I can get, but it'd be nice if the biggest chain in the world could give it's employees a little more than that.
6. You're thankful when a customer says they won't return.
Honestly, the less angry customers I have to deal with, the better. You can't please everyone, and some people are just impossible. When the shit storm of my day tells me they won't be back ever again, I just want to start dancing and cheering because that's music to my ears. The less difficult customers, the better.
7. You live off of deli food.
Until I started working at Wal-Mart, I had never eaten at the deli. If you haven't tried it, you're honestly missing out. That is the best food you're going to get for lunch and have time to enjoy it. Now, you may gain a few pounds when you first start but trust me, the chicken is so worth it.
8. You own every clearance item.
I actually think this may just be me, but you can seriously find the best deals when you work at Wal-Mart. You can hide stuff until the end of your shift and buy it or be on lunch break as it's being put out. Plus, you know how everything is set up, so when a new display is set up, you know if it's clearance and you know if it's new. Sometimes you also miss the really good deals because you happen to be working while they're being put out, but that's why you have a buddy system with your other deal chasing coworkers and help each other out!
9. You start to get an attitude with the customers.
It's my word against the customers, and my managers see the sweet, innocent smile on my face and how helpful I am. What they always happen to miss (thank goodness) is the customers that push me over the edge. People will yell at you for something you can't control or complain about something that isn't your fault, and sometimes you just have to let them know that you don't care about how angry they are. Sometimes a little eye roll, snide remark, or dead giveaway expression is worth the possibility of being fired.
Honestly, I like my job, I really do. Sometimes the general public makes it a little difficult to remain a tolerant individual, and that's okay. Why? Because no one expects good service at Wal-Mart anymore, so does it really matter?
