Walmart employee Thanksgiving donations at Canton store cause controversy

[estesbob]

Hmmm… interesting idea. Since we all pay taxes maybe we can get the govt to pay our share of our bills. Walmart “enables” its employees to qualify for food stamps and other social services. Many of their employees are also exempt from paying federal taxes. Walmart does pay taxes (in essence paying toward those services used by its employees). But we must admit that taxes aren’t levied to back fill financial voids left by greedy businesses. These taxes are supposed to pay for social security, the FAA, the CDC, NIH, the military, etc. If Walmart can rely on the government to supplement its employees because it pays for these services anyway, through its tax dollars, then we all might as well go on government welfare services. We, like Walmart, are paying for these services and we, like Walmart, should take advantages of the services we pay for immediately.

Also, Walmart only pays a lot in taxes because it make a ton of money in profits. It paid in 2010 an effective rate of 32% on unprotected income. It’s the same rate I paid and I don’t make even a millionth of what Walmart made… and the only protected income I have is what little I put away in my 401K. It’s not like we’re asking any more of Walmart than we ask of ourselves.

So wages should be based on how many children the employee has and how “filthy” rich the owners of the company are perceived to be? Is this how you run your business?

 

[qui_est_ce]

We are not a totally free market society. Ask any republican.

Not a true free market by any stretch.

We live in a free market society, the best method of allocating limited resources. **It may not be perfect, bit it has worked better than communism and socialism. **

I do believe the government needs to get out of the business of subsidizing. Also the IRS code needs to be overhauled.

 

[PeopleB4Things]

So wages should be based on how many children the employee has and how “filthy” rich the owners of the company are perceived to be? Is this how you run your business?

So we should allow filthy rich companies to underpay their employees making you and me pay for their food stamps and other welfare services? We have tried this for decades now and it’s not working. I have clients who work more than one job. They’re hard working people, (thousands of people in my community alone) who are still not making enough to live because they have retail, childcare or fast food jobs that pay squat. In many cases, when they are offered healthcare, the lowest cost single plan takes up half of their monthly pay. Because of this, you and I pay for the healthcare of their kids and in some cases their childcare and their housing. And sooooo many of these people are Walmart employees. So if you want to continue with the welfare state, then rally behind corporate greed and defend Walmart. Next time there’s a cut to cancer research, Veterans Admin, police, schools, etc, just know we’re biting the bullet so we can support the Waltons’ bottom line.

 

[DeniseNY]

Also, Walmart only pays a lot in taxes because it make a ton of money in profits.

 

[qui_est_ce]

So we should allow filthy rich companies to underpay their employees making you and me pay for their food stamps and other welfare services? We have tried this for decades now and it’s not working. I have clients who work more than one job. They’re hard working people, (thousands of people in my community alone) who are still not making enough to live because they have retail, childcare or fast food jobs that pay squat. In many cases, when they are offered healthcare, the lowest cost single plan takes up half of their monthly pay. Because of this, you and I pay for the healthcare of their kids and in some cases their childcare and their housing. And sooooo many of these people are Walmart employees. So if you want to continue with the welfare state, then rally behind corporate greed and defend Walmart. Next time there’s a cut to cancer research, Veterans Admin, police, schools, etc, just know we’re biting the bullet so we can support the Waltons’ bottom line.

Dear People-
The problem isn’t that people are on “the dole” because they work for Walmart. It’s they can’t get a job anywhere else that pays better. Raising minimum wage isn’t going to solve that problem.

One of the problems I see at my job is that the people who work for minimum wage don’t even have a high school diploma. They come from families that have lived on welfare for generations. They have to be taught to come to work on time, to call in if they won’t be in or if they’re late. And they have to work. Those that do well and show initiative get promoted to higher paying and even managerial positions.

Sadly, many (not most) only stay a few months, then don’t show up for work. A few weeks later, we get the unemployment compensation request.

 

[seekerz]

Dear People-
The problem isn’t that people are on “the dole” because they work for Walmart. It’s they can’t get a job anywhere else that pays better. Raising minimum wage isn’t going to solve that problem.

One of the problems I see at my job is that the people who work for minimum wage don’t even have a high school diploma. They come from families that have lived on welfare for generations. They have to be taught to come to work on time, to call in if they won’t be in or if they’re late. And they have to work. Those that do well and show initiative get promoted to higher paying and even managerial positions.

Sadly, many (not most) only stay a few months, then don’t show up for work. A few weeks later, we get the unemployment compensation request.

What does generalizing about Walmart workers’ work ethic have to do with paying a just wage?

You could be the school janitor or or the monarch of the UK, you are ***entitled ***to a just wage. Yes, it’s really that simple.

 

[seekerz]

So wages should be based on how many children the employee has and how “filthy” rich the owners of the company are perceived to be? Is this how you run your business?

I believe that standing for a wage level which is based on keeping the standard-sized family above poverty level, taking into account the resources and assets of the business that employs them, is the way we Catholics run our faith, no…?

 

[qui_est_ce]

Dear People-
The problem isn’t that people are on “the dole” because they work for Walmart. It’s they can’t get a job anywhere else that pays better. Raising minimum wage isn’t going to solve that problem.

One of the problems I see at my job is that the people who work for minimum wage don’t even have a high school diploma. They come from families that have lived on welfare for generations. They have to be taught to come to work on time, to call in if they won’t be in or if they’re late. And they have to work. Those that do well and show initiative get promoted to higher paying and even managerial positions.

Sadly, many (not most) only stay a few months, then don’t show up for work. A few weeks later, we get the unemployment compensation request.

What does generalizing about Walmart workers’ work ethic have to do with paying a just wage.

You could be the school janitor or or the monarch of the UK, you are ***entitled ***to a just wage. Yes, it’s really that simple.

I did not generalize about Walmart workers’ work ethics. I made a comment about the people who work for my company.

Another problem is identifying “how much” and what is a “just” wage.

Dear People-
The problem isn’t that people are on “the dole” because they work for Walmart. It’s they can’t get a job anywhere else that pays better. Raising minimum wage isn’t going to solve that problem.

This is the real problem.

 

[qui_est_ce]

I believe that standing for a wage level which is based on keeping the standard-sized family above poverty level, taking into account the resources and assets of the business that employs them, is the way we Catholics run our faith, no…?

If you want to use that model, all postal employees should get pay cuts.

 

[seekerz]

If you want to use that model, all postal employees should get pay cuts.

BOTH parts of the model, not just one.

 

[seekerz]

I did not generalize about Walmart workers’ work ethics. I made a comment about the people who work for my company.

Another problem is identifying “how much” and what is a “just” wage.

This is the real problem.

What problem? A company is raking in billions and passing round the hat for its workers to be able to enjoy a decent Thanksgiving meal…I don’t know a single business owner in this area who would have a problem identifying that as simply wrong.

 

[qui_est_ce]

BOTH parts of the model, not just one.

How are you going to fix that?

My son gets an after school job at the grocery store. He gets paid $7.50 to start.

Now I (single mom of two) apply for the same job. How much should I be paid?

Does he get paid for the job or for the “just wage.”

 

[qui_est_ce]

What problem? A company is raking in billions and passing round the hat for its workers to be able to enjoy a decent Thanksgiving meal…I don’t know a single business owner in this area who would have a problem identifying that as simply wrong.

Walmart isn’t “raking in” money. They are legitimately EARNING it. And they earn it because people CHOOSE to shop there.

 

[stinkcat_14]

One of the problems I see at my job is that the people who work for minimum wage don’t even have a high school diploma.

Here is the problem, if you look at the characteristics of minimum wage workers, of those without a high school diploma, 36% earn the minimum wage, if you look at those with an associates degree, the number falls to 4.7%, it is even lower for those who graduate from occupational programs.

The path to a living wage is clear. Now there are some, who for reasons not of their own fault, cannot utilize educational opportunities. For example, I know of a lady who is a bit mentally challenged (she may have downs syndrome), who works at Walmart and that is likely to be the pinnacle of her career. I believe we as a society have an obligation to her, but I don’t think that Walmart has a specific obligation to pay her more than she is worth. And by what she is worth I mean solely the value of her marginal product.

Here is the education data.

bls.gov/cps/minwage2012tbls.htm#6

 

[qui_est_ce]

Here is the problem, if you look at the characteristics of minimum wage workers, of those without a high school diploma, 36% earn the minimum wage, if you look at those with an associates degree, the number falls to 4.7%, it is even lower for those who graduate from occupational programs.

The path to a living wage is clear. Now there are some, who for reasons not of their own fault, cannot utilize educational opportunities. For example, I know of a lady who is a bit mentally challenged (she may have downs syndrome), who works at Walmart and that is likely to be the pinnacle of her career. **I believe we as a society have an obligation to her, but I don’t think that Walmart has a specific obligation to pay her more than she is worth. And by what she is worth I mean solely the value of her marginal product. **

Here is the education data.

bls.gov/cps/minwage2012tbls.htm#6

I completely agree with you, especially the bolded. (BTW, one of my monthly reports contributes to the bls data you linked).

The problem isn’t Walmart.

 

[qui_est_ce]

So wages should be based on how many children the employee has and how “filthy” rich the owners of the company are perceived to be? Is this how you run your business?

Crickets.

This question has been asked by several posters and never answered.

 

[Lochias]

Crickets.

This question has been asked by several posters and never answered.

Fine. Yes. People who are raising more children who will go out and contribute to society should receive more, and no person alive needs multiple billions of dollars to be happy or prosperous.

 

[Dawnia]

According to Walmart (apparently there was a Twitter war between them and Ashton Kutcher recently that I completely missed):

the average fulltime employee makes The majority of our workforce is full-time and makes more than $25,000/year.

Also about 75% of our store management teams started as hourly associates & they earn between $50,000 and $170,000 a year on avg.

Lastly, every year, we promote about 160,000 people to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

So we should allow filthy rich companies to underpay their employees making you and me pay for their food stamps and other welfare services? We have tried this for decades now and it’s not working. I have clients who work more than one job. They’re hard working people, (thousands of people in my community alone) who are still not making enough to live because they have retail, childcare or fast food jobs that pay squat. In many cases, when they are offered healthcare, the lowest cost single plan takes up half of their monthly pay. Because of this, you and I pay for the healthcare of their kids and in some cases their childcare and their housing. And sooooo many of these people are Walmart employees. So if you want to continue with the welfare state, then rally behind corporate greed and defend Walmart. Next time there’s a cut to cancer research, Veterans Admin, police, schools, etc, just know we’re biting the bullet so we can support the Waltons’ bottom line.

They pay squat because anyone can do these jobs. They are unskilled labor.

If you want a job that pays a so called “living wage,” then learn a trade or go to college.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Fine. Yes. People who are raising more children who will go out and contribute to society should receive more,

how you are going to do that? have them submit their tax returns along with their employee applications?

and no person alive needs multiple billions of dollars to be happy or prosperous.

I don’t think anybody here has said that. But you can’t prevent people from earning money if they want to.