Walmart Employee Reviews

1.0

Cashier (Former Employee)

31.7.2013, Job Location: Redding, CA

Working at the front end is not for the faint of heart; the lines are always long or its so dead that you'll have nothing to do at all. People are often rude and there's very little you can really do to fix some of the problems that arrive. Customers come to you wanting to know where things are, but there's little chance you'll know since you are only ever at the front end. If the register locks up or something goes wrong with a transaction, you usually can't do anything but wait for one of the CSMs to use their key and code to fix it. The policies also often change and there's barely any time you'll ever get to do the CBLs or attend meetings unless you come in on your time off--though they do compensate you for all meetings.

Also some of the higher-ups you deal with in the front end have different ways of doing stuff and it can be confusing working to every one's specific expectations. And you often have to work on holidays and shifting hours since it never closes. Breaks and lunch is mandatory depending on how long your shift is, but generally 90% of the time you have to be relieved by another cashier and waiting for somebody can take quite a while. Being late for lunch gets you in trouble, though sometimes its nearly impossible to get off the register on time.

But if you get hired full-time or work there long enough, the benefits and pay are pretty good.

4.0

Customer Service (Former Employee)

18.7.2013, Job Location: Schererville, IN

Working a Wal-Mart was a great experience, as it gave me the opportunity to work with many different people on a daily basis. A typical day at work included organizing merchandise, updated pricing and assisting with customer concerns and questions.

The management team was very informative and hands on. They not only gave the employees directions but they would also physically help when needed.

The co-workers were very helpful as well. They had no problem answering questions and training new employees without being asked by a manager first.

The hardest part of the job was working the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve. Customers were very agitated trying to get to the merchandise that was on sale and were in some cases not understanding to the limited stock.

The most enjoyable part of the job was learning how to work under pressure and meeting new people.

4.0

Customer Service (Former Employee)

18.7.2013, Job Location: Schererville, IN

Working a Wal-Mart was a great experience, as it gave me the opportunity to work with many different people on a daily basis. A typical day at work included organizing merchandise, updated pricing and assisting with customer concerns and questions.

The management team was very informative and hands on. They not only gave the employees directions but they would also physically help when needed.

The co-workers were very helpful as well. They had no problem answering questions and training new employees without being asked by a manager first.

The hardest part of the job was working the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve. Customers were very agitated trying to get to the merchandise that was on sale and were in some cases not understanding to the limited stock.

The most enjoyable part of the job was learning how to work under pressure and meeting new people.

3.0

Overnight Stocker (Former Employee)

3.7.2013, Job Location: Hesperia, CA

Walmart would not have been such a bad place to work at if it wasn't for the management. They seem to have a tendency to hire/promote the biggest a-holes in the industry. Favoritism is a major problem as well, as they seem to hire the ""pretty people"" instead of the ones who can actually do the job better.

As an Overnight Stocker, a typical day would start by punching in, getting a quick briefing on the stock today and what they want accomplished. Once done, we go off to our task manager to punch in what tasks we're getting started with. Typically, the task managers would want the associates to do 10+ hours of work in about 8 hours. Almost is it never completed fully, depending on what area you're working in. (Places like Pharmacy, Foods, and Stationary almost never get completed.)

New co-workers bring a fresh air to the team, but it's only a matter of a couple of weeks until their happy-go-lucky attitude is destroyed by managers. The hardest part of the job is knowing that you've done all this work and are never appreciated for it.

The only true enjoyment I had with this job was being able to help not only customers, but the people I worked with. Whenever I would be finished, I would always go to the areas that were hit the hardest with freight and help my co-workers. Of course I'd always make sure to see if it was okay with management. Just a simple ""Thanks"" or ""Thanks for the help man, you saved my butt"" always lifts my spirit.

Overall, Walmart is a terrible place to work. Only recommend it if you really need the cash and if you keep to yourself.

3.0

Overnight Stocker (Former Employee)

3.7.2013, Job Location: Hesperia, CA

Walmart would not have been such a bad place to work at if it wasn't for the management. They seem to have a tendency to hire/promote the biggest a-holes in the industry. Favoritism is a major problem as well, as they seem to hire the ""pretty people"" instead of the ones who can actually do the job better.

As an Overnight Stocker, a typical day would start by punching in, getting a quick briefing on the stock today and what they want accomplished. Once done, we go off to our task manager to punch in what tasks we're getting started with. Typically, the task managers would want the associates to do 10+ hours of work in about 8 hours. Almost is it never completed fully, depending on what area you're working in. (Places like Pharmacy, Foods, and Stationary almost never get completed.)

New co-workers bring a fresh air to the team, but it's only a matter of a couple of weeks until their happy-go-lucky attitude is destroyed by managers. The hardest part of the job is knowing that you've done all this work and are never appreciated for it.

The only true enjoyment I had with this job was being able to help not only customers, but the people I worked with. Whenever I would be finished, I would always go to the areas that were hit the hardest with freight and help my co-workers. Of course I'd always make sure to see if it was okay with management. Just a simple ""Thanks"" or ""Thanks for the help man, you saved my butt"" always lifts my spirit.

Overall, Walmart is a terrible place to work. Only recommend it if you really need the cash and if you keep to yourself.

4.0

Direct Store Delivery (DSD) Receiving Associate (Current Employee)

22.6.2013, Job Location: Fort Collins, CO

Retail will always have it's share of ups and downs as business is dictated by the consumer / economy. However, having previously worked at a major competitor for four years, Walmart has been nothing short of impressive in terms of working toward keeping costs low for the consumer and providing a positive work environment for their associates.

A huge benefit outside their excellent healthcare package and associate profit-sharing program is Walmart's flexibility in attempting to meet the needs of associates outside of work, whereas Walmart appears to try to schedule around a person's life outside of work as long as the associate makes reasonable requests within a reasonable period of time.

In many respects, management goes above and beyond in their attempts to provide associates with a work schedule which maximizes availability while further attempting to minimize disruptions outside of work.

3.0

Electronics Associate (Former Employee)

9.6.2013, Job Location: Hardeeville, SC

Everyday I would start out by cleaning and zoning the shelves. I would help any customer that needed information on an item that we had in stock, and I would retrieve that item for them as well (if we had it in the back).

I worked the register and checked out items for anyone who found whaat they were looking for. Working at Wal-Mart was my first job, so I learned communication skills, how to help out a customer, how to work the register, and different job requiring skills. The management were friendly and welcoming.

I loved my co-workers, they made the job more enjoyable. The hadest part of the job was when a numerous amount of customer wanted your help, and they would get disapponted if you didn't help them first. The most enjoyable part of the job was that it kept me busy.

I also loved how much gratitude the customers showed when I helped them.

3.0

Assistant Store Manager (Current Employee)

2.6.2013, Job Location: Shreveport, LA

A typical day consists of about 13-14 hours. There is usually 2-3 managers on my current overnight shift. My day starts with getting my freight unloaded and stocked in a timely mannner. Getting the sales floor to look like grand opening by 7am.

The ability to multi task is not an option. I still have to ensure that my sales floor is still productive as well as my cashiers and check outs. My location is open for business 24 hours.

The customer doesn't care about the back of the building just their ability to find their merchandise and get checked out quickly. But what goes on behind the scene is the only way to make that a pleasant experience. I have about 30 to 45 minutes to access the store and plan out a shift. I have learned how to implement change and innovations within a fast growing company and changing economy.

I have learned how to get ordinary people to do extraordinary things. My co-workers come from all walks of life. Wal-mart is a true diverse and melting pot. The hardest part of the job is the high turnover and getting to know all of your people.

The most enjoyable part of the job is helping people live better and save money and taking care of the customers and associates both internal and external.

2.0

Department Manager (Former Employee)

19.5.2013, Job Location: Selinsgrove, PA

Work was stressful.

I learned how Walmarts retail system works as a store and how the retail industry works.

I learned valuable management skills, though the amount of work and responsibility was unreasonable.

Most of my co workers were great people, though I find everyone needs to know about your business, and therers little trust or privacy unless you keep to yourself. Then of course you'd more than likely be labeled as a snob for not speaking to anyone.

The hardest part was dealing with the amount of expectations that were placed above you, and the lack of management cooperation and solid instruction to associates. Communication was a very large issue that never seemed to be addressed in an ever lasting way.

The most enjoyable part of my day was actually connecting with other associates and teaching them the new processes and techniques Walmart adds into their retail system. I also enjoyed interacting with customers and got a sense of satisfaction when I know I had helped them that day, and leave them with a positive experience from that day.

1.0

Shipping and Receiving Associate (Former Employee)

11.5.2013, Job Location: Springfield, MA

I worked overnights on the floor stocking shelves. My first day on the job consisted of being handed equipment and told to do a job that I was unable to do, due to lack of training. The manager gave me no time to ask questions and disappeared. I spent nearly an hour trying to find him, only to find out he was asleep in the camera room.

A coworker kindly helped me out. The breaks were probably the only thing I looked forward to at work, simply because a group of coworkers always brought cards or dominoes and that was what we spent our break time doing. The hardest aspect of that job was my constant fight with management, they had their minds set more on times rather than the health of our customers; I say this because after a few months working there, I was stocking groceries.

Part of stocking groceries consisted of rotating the stock (placing the old stock in the front and the new stock in the back) I was disciplined multiple times because I refused to shove the old stock in the back just to make room for new stock. Despite multiple attempts to talk to the other managers, none of them really seemed to care about the situation. I was soon let go due to "taking too long finishing my task" because rotating the stock took too long.

I would NEVER recommend anyone work at that Walmart again.

1.0

Sales Associate (Current Employee)

2.5.2013, Job Location: Cheyenne, WY

Working in the Meat Department has greatly benefited my demeanor. I used to be extremely shy and introverted. After four years of working at Wal Mart I have lost almost all of my shyness and I am less of an introvert.

A typical day in the meat department starts off with taking the trays out to the floor to stock meat. We then write a list of items we need from the back. Half of our items require a use by date after they are removed from their mother bag. Once all items have the proper use by date we take them to the floor for customers.

The hardest part of the job would be dealing with irate customers. In my opinion the most enjoyable part of the job is placing our items into the inventory system. The job allows me to utilize my organization skills and to make sure our counts are right.

I have learned:
How to deal with irate customers in a polite manner.
How to use the ordering system and inventory system.
How to properly stock.
Proper cleaning procedures.

1.0

Inventory Control Specialist/ Truck Crew (Current Employee)

30.4.2013, Job Location: Placerville, CA

A typical day at work i come it at 4:00 PM and we get the backroom set up to unload the General Merchandise truck. we pull pallets out of the backroom and then set empty pallets down nicely to stack the freight neatly on them. We make sure the back room is clean and work safe. we unload how ever many trucks there are then make sure everything is separated.

Then go to lunch come back and pull all pallets to the floor for graveyard stockers to stock. After we pull all pallets we will do inventory control in back room such as picks, audits, bin audits, etc... After we finish that up we clean backroom and get any pallets down from upper steel to pull to floor. i have learned a lot of work ethics, inventory control, management skills, how retail runs.

Management at Wal-Mart are quite unfair and absolutely dont take work serious enough in my opinion and they don't work as hard as they should as well, this is one reason i want to move up and work hard and get better pay to take care of my family. Most of my co-workers are wonderful people they work very hard and have a lot of potential to do great things.

The hardest part of the job is being in the middle of mornings management and graveyards management, one will tell us one thing and the other will tell us something completely different they don't stay in contact which leads us to getting in trouble.

The most enjoyable part of the job is just the atmosphere with my fellow truck crew members.

5.0

Regional Trainer-Store Director (Former Employee)

12.4.2013, Job Location: Seven states

As a Wal Mart Supercenter store manager you are in charge of up to 400 employees, $8 million in average inventory, with sales reaching up to $100 million annually. You have to wear alot of different "hats".

From maintenance to resetting the store at least once per year. The key to managing one of these "beasts" is to realizing that your people are your greatest asset. If you are not a people person you will fail miserably. Also you must be a visionary to be proactive in planning and execution of policies and procedures. The best part of the job is seeing your associates progress and move up in the company.

Bottom line if you have a good team your store will be a great success, both the business itself and the business in and for your community. The hours are long to say the least, minimum of 55-60, 5-6 days per week. Very self fulfilling job but there is significant pressure managing these stores.

You don't see many retired Wal Mart Store Managers, most of the time they leave because of the extreme pressure, found another less pressure job or health reasons. Your overall salary is well over 6 digits but you earn every penny, and then some.

2.0

Sales Associate (Former Employee)

2.4.2013, Job Location: Bedford, OH

Its not that all Wal-Marts are terrible places to work at I just feel like the one I was at was very unprofessional and unacceptable. I usually worked second shift at the Wal-Mart in Bedford, Ohio and when I came in there will always be about 10-15 carts that were unable for customer use because they were stacked tall with clothes that third shift would pick up off the floor or get out the backroom and never put up.

First shift would do the best they could but we were always behind with no assistance from the managers and other daily things to do. Managers would often pull members of our team to go to another section of the job because someone wasn't at work leaving us with less hands and more work to do the next day. We were over worked and under payed and it was very frustrating.

The work conditions were very un clean and we got criticized as workers more than praised. It was just a terrible experience at that particular Wal-Mart.

3.0

Customer Service Rep (Current Employee)

29.3.2013, Job Location: Summerville, SC

It's a nice place to work and stability. Meeting new people everyday is also a plus, but it has its down falls. Often i don't feel treated equally with other employees and the benefits aren't good. I've been working here for almost 4 years and only make $9.35 an hour.

I have so much experience in different departments in the store and feel like i deserve more. With that being said this is my reasoning on searching for a new job and or career. It's normally busy and that's something that i love, makes the day go by faster. Ive learned so much from knowing how to present myself in front of a customer to counting and handling large quantities of money.

Management is not fair on how they make decisions between employees and co-workers make it easier to deal with. We normally encourage each other and help one another. The hardest part of this job is dealing with rude customers, but even that's not hard for me. It sometimes gets a little uncomfortable but i always master the situation and the customer leaves happy or content.

The most enjoyable part of this job is the customers.

5.0

Sales Associate (Current Employee)

21.3.2013, Job Location: Morgantown, WV

Working at Wal-mart has certainly has its moments like any other place of employment. For me, it has been the job that I need it to be. My superiors have always shown me the utmost respect and compliance when working with my hectic school schedules or personal issues that have risen over the past seven years of my employment.

While there are those who have had constraining issues with the company, I personally have felt no animosity or ill-will towards my supervisors or co-workers, and for this I have been truly fortunate. Along with my schedule, medical, and bonus benefits, the most constraining part of my job has been the excruciatingly long hours and heavy workloads that I am subjected to. It's a constantly changing environment and with that comes added stresses of new projects and inventory preparations that can take weeks to accomplish.

Sometimes this unfortunately enables a few normal 8 hour work days quickly turning in to the inevitable 32 hour straight grind. These hardships in my opinion do not outweigh the benefits therefore I do not mind coming in early, staying late, being scheduled on my days off, or losing weekends and holidays.

5.0

Cashier (Former Employee)

5.3.2013, Job Location: Arlington, TX

Wokring at walmart was a very difficult but also fun job. You learn new people. You see what each person buys everyday, thru out the week. Any day at walmart was a very busy day. I worked in the morning the same shift Monday-Friday 6:30am-4pm Saturday-Sunday would be any shift available.

The management in the morning was the best because everything wasn't so rushed or at a fast pace. They weren't to busy to come to your register to count or exchange out any merchandise you needed. My co-workers were like neighbors next door. We all worked hard for the money we earned.

We all had our moments of laughter,cries & sad days. But we came in did what we all had to do and worried about other things outside of work. There wasn't any real hard part working for walmart honestly, the worse thing that could possibly happen to you at walmart is having someone else work you register and something so happens to come up and your shorter than what you were before your shift started.

You cant trust everyone that works on your register because they may have someone they know come shorten your draw and that along will put you in a waddle of mess. But overall my experience working there was a very memorable and I can honestly say that I loved it there.

1.0

Sales Associate (Former Employee)

25.2.2013, Job Location: Austin, TX

A typical day at work starts with sliding your badge through the time clock. Heading out to the sales floor to get keys you notice how much was left undone by the overnight crew. Having 8 hours to stock all the merchandise that came in the truck the night before, help customers and sell electronics results in a busy but manageable day...

Until management get's involved. Suddenly the department is left unattended so that homelines can get stocked or have it's modulars redone, because homeline associates can't do this on their own. I'm all about one team one fight, but it should really work both ways.

Pay is fairly low, but it will pay bills if not much else. Benifits are ok if you are single, but if you have a family don't try to work here unless they can guarantee a full-time position, which they wont. It's far cheaper to hire multiple people and have them work seperate days so that they are under ""full-time"" hours.

4.0

GM Unloader (Former Employee)

19.2.2013, Job Location: Brookhaven, MS

A typical day in the retail industry of Wal-Mart was challenging especially during during seasonal seasonal selling periods like christmas and back-to-school. I learned a lot as an individual at Wal-Mart but also even more about business and the retail industry.

At the University of Southern Mississippi, I was and is still able to gain a lot more insight about the retail industry and all of the operations involved in it. I have also learned the challenging roles that managers take on a daily basis such as operational managing direct material, labor, and overhead.

My co-workers also taught me a lot about associates in general like what to expect from people as it relates to the betterment of the business overall mission. I would say that the hardest part about my job was the direct physical labor of associated with it.

At times, it was extremely tough unloading two or three trucks everyday. However, as I began to learn more about business at USM, I learned that our labor was play a major role in Wal-Mart's productivity rate.

The most enjoyable part of my job was the pursuit of accomplishing the company's overall mission and satisfying the owners as with any business.

1.0

Sr. Facilitator - Talent Development (Former Employee)

8.2.2013, Job Location: Ohio

Walmart is a fine company for 2 types of people: 1) early career-minded, and (mostly) uninspired professionals, and; 2) those who just need ""a job"" and either can't get much else (don't want to work in the fast food industry), or aren't really skilled at anything in particular.

If you are the former, you can certainly build a long career with Walmart. However, you will become trapped after a certain number of years because,...well, its complicated.

If you are the later, you will barely eek-out a living and the health benefits (if you really study them), are pretty bad and getting worse (more expensive).

While Walmart has a written culture that focuses on three core values, they are not readily practiced much by Management.

Finally, Walmart's heavy investment in technology is all aimed at reducing the number of humans needed to work in the stores. Customer Service no longer means helping customers. It now means just ensuring that merchandise is available on the shelf and priced right. As such, the work is mostly stocking, moving merchandise, and doing price changes. A computer determines your duties and it is all timed in order to assess one's productivity. All this for a smidge over minimum wage.

3.0

Overnight Produce Stocker (Former Employee)

8.2.2013, Job Location: Orlando, FL

No other phrase seems to fit this job better than this. Daily I would have to wake up at 8 pm and get ready for my shift that started at 10. After reaching the store I would be greeted with the all smiling, yet tired faces of my coworkers who, while either much older than me, still acted as if they were in highschool with all of the drama that entails.

Management was at best helpful and on task, and at worst it seemed as if asking them to do anything for their subordinates was arm twistingly painful. The produce night shift was monotonous and repetitive, there was almost no change to what we had to do, and while that was nice it became boring after a while. I did learn a lot about the upkeep of produce and the difference between a ripe and overripe fruit.

The most difficult part of the job was pulling down freight, at 2 a.m. during our lunch break at freight truck would come in stacked to the ceiling with produce products, and since I was never properly trained in the usage of electric pallet jacks, I had to use a hand drawn one and pull them down.

The best part of the job was working the salad wall, they would come in these lightweight boxes and all I'd have to do was check the dates and toss the bad ones then restock with newer ones.

2.0

Warehouse/Receiving Supervisor (Former Employee)

20.1.2013, Job Location: Highland, IL

On a typical day at Wal-Mart at least at the store I was fortunate to be employed, I along with most other of the employees knew what their jobs were and knew what to do to get them done. Almost everyday I had learned something new or was willing to learn new objectives by my fellow employees which made it such a "team" around there.

Management was kind but again for us who had worked the shift I worked, management was helpful when needed but knew we would get the job done no matter how jobs they gave us. Everyday was hard work and we all were given many responsibly but did what we could to get them done and always asked or assisted each other to get them done before our shift ended.

Over the 6 years working for Wal-Mart I worked in a few various positions but as for my last as a receiving manager was where I felt most at home. Due to meeting all the new vendors and the constant multitasking which kept me busy all day and excepting something new to occur every time I walked in always kept me on my toes.

What I have learned most from working at Wal-Mart has been what it takes to operate a day to day operation of just one of hundreds of retail stores.

1.0

Cake Decorator (Former Employee)

8.1.2013, Job Location: Saint Peters, MO

I was a cake decorator and I LOVED the actual work part of the job. I got to make childrens birthday parties special as well as weddings and other special occasions. HOWEVER, the managers cared absolutely nothing about your life or how you feel or anything.

First, I had a manager ask me to come in at different times for two weeks than what i was scheduled so i assumed she had let other management know and changed my schedule. Nope, I was reprimanded for what they thought was 2 tardies and 1 no show. After pleading my case, i kept my job. Now my job was tuesday through saturday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

One weekend was coming up and we had a tonnnnn of orders and because they had just fired the other decorator, i was the only one. So they asked me to work friday overnight after working 7-3 on friday. I agreed. So i left work at 3 and came back at 10p on friday. Well, i worked until 7a.m. on saturday then went to clock out and they told me no. I needed to make stock cakes for the cooler.

So then, i worked until 12 p.m. Then I went to leave and they still wanted me to stay until 5 p.m! I had just found out i was pregnant and they were aware of this. When I reminded them about this, they told me "I should stop being a baby and do my job before i get fired." So I threw in the towel right there!

Don't ever let an employer walk all over you like that and take advantage of you.

3.0

Backroom Inventory (Former Employee)

3.1.2013, Job Location: Indian Trail, NC

Typical day starts with a meeting, then straight to your assignment. I learned how to use a Telxon to navigate items in the store, and to keep track of inventory. Also how to use forklift and scissor lift.

Direct management was ok to work with. There were the few who would overstep their professional boundaries. Co-managers and store managers were very difficult people to work with. They were very hard on the older/elderly employees, which was difficult to watch. Coworkers were mostly good people.

Hardest part of the job was meeting the impossible goals management would sometimes set. Returning inventory to the back room, they want it all put back on the backroom shelves, yet many times there is just not room to fit it all, and you take the fall for that. Also, you will get fussed at for not completely filling a shelf, for example, but at the same time you will get yelled at if you open a box and the whole box doesn't fit on the shelf. So it's a no-win. But you learn to take the yelling and move on.

Most enjoyable part of the job was working with people who just want to get the job done, and work together to do it.

3.0

Cashier, Inventory Associate (Former Employee)

27.12.2012, Job Location: Chipley, FL

I worked overnight shift at walmart, first as a cashier. As a cashier I was expected to take care of costumers, check their items out using the scanner, cash register and maintaining a cash draw. I would clean all registers, collect trash, random items needing to be put back on shelves, sweep and restock. I then switched to inventory associate position, which was more fast paced and kept me busy throughout my entire shift, unlike cashiering.

As an inventory associate, I would use computer system to see what items were needed out on the floor and collect those items from the backroom for the stockers. There would be items in every department and we would have 5 hours at the most to collect all items shown. After we would then start collecting the overstock and enter that back into the system, with correct counts, package it and put in proper, designated area.

Management at the particular Walmart I worked at, was to me, all over the place. There was the general manager, then 2 assistant gms, and countless other manager positons, so things would get a little confusing, meaning you could have one manager come up and tell you to do something in particular and then have another come up and tell you to do something completely different. With that particular job I wish it had been a little more stuctured with more communication.