Wal-Mart structure
Sometimes I find myself reading through the court documents for lawsuits filed against Wal-Mart. Usually those documents are filled with a bunch of garbage posing as factual information. Occasionally, though, some interesting information is found.
Below is a description of Wal-Mart’s operating structure which was published in a court document in 2003. The only advantage to reading the text here is that I removed all of the legal cross references and footnotes to make the text readable. [The following should be taken with a grain of salt in that this information was produced from an anti-Wal-Mart lawsuit and does not come from the company's official filings.]
Below is a description of Wal-Mart’s operating structure which was published in a court document in 2003. The only advantage to reading the text here is that I removed all of the legal cross references and footnotes to make the text readable. [The following should be taken with a grain of salt in that this information was produced from an anti-Wal-Mart lawsuit and does not come from the company's official filings.]
There are a total of 41 regions: 35 Wal-Mart regions and six Sam's Club regions.
Each region is supervised by a Regional Vice President (RVP), who is based in Bentonville and travels for three weeks out of each month to the region.
Because the regional management is based in Bentonville, Wal-Mart has an unusually high concentration of executives and managers based in the Home Office.
Regional management meets at least weekly with Bentonville-based corporate and executive leadership to discuss developments in the individual stores.
Each region, in turn, contains approximately eleven districts; each district contains approximately six to eight stores.
Each district is run by a District Manager, who lives in the field.
At Sam's Club, district managers are called Directors of Operations, but the job responsibilities are identical.
On personnel matters, District Managers work in conjunction with Regional Personnel Managers (RPM).
The RPMs are based in Bentonville and are responsible for recruiting and assist in selecting store management and monitoring personnel policies.
RPMs visit the stores on a weekly basis and submit reports to five People Directors in the Home Office.
Each Wal-Mart store has the same job categories, job descriptions and management hierarchy.
At the bottom of the ladder, the primary entry level hourly positions are cashier, sales associate and stocker.
The first step up is hourly Department Manager.
Other hourly supervisor positions include Customer Service Manager (CSM), known as Check-Out Supervisor (COS) at Sam's Club.
The highest level hourly manager at Wal-Mart is Support Manager.
The next step up is to management trainee, a four-to-five month program which prepares employees for positions as Assistant Managers.
The first salaried management position is Assistant Manager.
Each store has several Assistant Managers, varying with the size of the store.
The next level is Co-Manager, a position used only in larger stores.
The top store position is Store Manager, called General Manager in Sam's Clubs.
The stores contain 40-50 different departments.
posted by Bobby at 1:18 PM
483 Comments:
As an associate I can say that assessment is pretty accurate, however in Feburary it will be changed.
District Managers are going away (mostly) and being replaced by "Market Managers" who will be responsible for a larger number of stores (12-20, or more instead of 5-8). Regionals will be moved out of Bentonville and into the field, and they will control more logical areas, such as the Midwest which will be based in Chicago, will include Illinois, Wisconsin, etc. In other words entire states. As it is now most states are split up within regions (Alabama is in 3 regions, for example)
Also, all new stores open since about mid-year 2004 (totally new stores, not relocations) are on a new job code structure, in which there are no dept. managers, they are instead "merchandise supervisors" and CSMs are "customer service supervisors". merch. supervisors are responsible for slightly different areas, for example the ladies dept manager is only over all the ladies depts. but they might also pick up accessories or intimates, etc. This is supposed to be rolled out to all stores eventually, but I don't think a timeframe has been set (or I haven't heard about it)
That is fascinating to learn that the Regionals (the RVPs) will be moved out into the field. I wonder how often they will be returning to Bentonville to meet with the Divisional or Senior Vice Presidents?
Offloading the RVPs to the field is quite an interesting change. In fact everything you mentioned above is interesting.
I will also be very curious to see how the change to "Market Managers" will work for Wal-Mart.
More than anything, I'm getting the feeling that Wal-Mart is getting ready for massive physical growth into the mainland U.S.
Lee Scott's plan is to try to roll out 4,000 more SuperCenters over the next 10 to 15 years. Looks like they're reorganizing the mid-management structure to get ready for this.
Wal-mart has a flowchart on their new site showing the hierarchy (sp?) in the Wal-Mart Stores division:
http://walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg=303
url if its getting cut off in your browser:
http://tinyurl.com/b683d
Any idea what the corporate hierarchy looks like? Specifically in the marketing department?
Thanks,
xxxx
In response to the first comment, and to clarify the reasoning behind the realignment and addition of stores into the new Markets, the Company is working to increase the merchandising power of the individual markets, which are now based more on the economic landscape of an area, less on the physical geographics. Wal-Mart has rolled out a "Store of the Community" program, which customizes everything in a store based on a community's specific needs, from store layout to item selection, which has been illustrated in the new Plano, TX store.
The Market Office is not only going to be home to the Market Manager, but to a series of Market Merchandisers in each of the general areas of the store: Food & Consumables, Fashion/Apparel, Homelines & Hardlines (the first two of which have already been created and filled in most, if not all, markets). With more stores in his/her market, and more people in the office to take ownership of each of the merchandising areas, the Market Manager (MM) can now spend more time focusing on store operations and whatnot. They're also adding a Market Human Resource Manager to the mix, which realigns all of those responsibilities away from the MM and to the MHRM.
It's going to be an interesting period of the change that's going to be visible right down to the individual stores. Because of the Company's rapid growth, they're had to rethink how operations are going to be affected, without going overboard on the simple things like payroll. I think we're going to see a short, rough time of adjustment, but eventually I think it will work out in the Customer's favor.
i use to work for walmart store 5035 i have 6 friends that work there still 5 are overnight stockers and 1 is a lead in the back room on days 4 of the 5 of my friends are being harrasted by a co man.what can they all do they are all hard workers and do more than everybody in that store put together please help thank you
THE NEW CHANGES WILL AFFECT ALL STORES, WITH MOST OF THE CHANGES TAKING PLACE WITH A DEADLINE OF SEPT 23, 2006. THE NEW STRUCTURE WILL FORCE MANY WORKING MOTHERS TO QUIT THE COMPANY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE LONG TERM AND THEREOFORE COMPARATIVELY HIGHER PAID. THE STRUCTURE IS ELIMINATING SOME POSTITIONS ENTIRELY. FOR THE OTHERS THEY ARE FORCING SCHEDULE CHANGES THAT WILL MEAN ASSOCIATES WHO HAVE ALWAYS WORKED A SET SHIFT, SUCH AS DAYS, WILL NOW HAVE TO WORK VARIED HOURS, INCLUDING NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, WITH SCANT FLEXIBILITY. SCREW YOUR CURRENT CHILD CARE ARRANGMENTS, YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES AFTER SCHOOL, THE FAMILY LIFE YOU'VE BUILT AROUND YOUR SCHEDULE. SO MUCH FOR WORKING HARD ON NIGHT AND WEEKENDS DURING YOUR EARLY YEARS WITH THE COMPANY SO THAT YOU COULD EARN YOURSELF INTO A BETTER POSITION THAT WAS MORE FAMILY-LIFE FRIENDLY. OF COURSE, THE LONGER YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY, THE MORE YOU WILL BE PAID, THE MORE LIKELY YOU WILL HAVE A PREFFERED SCHEDULE POSITION. BY MAKING THESE CHANGES WAL-MART WILL BE FORCING THOSE HIGHER PAID ASSOCIATES WHO TREASURE THEIR FAMILY LIFE TO LEAVE THEIR POSTIONS. THEY ARE OFFERING A MEAGER SEVERANCE PACKAGE AND CROSSING THEIR FINGERS THAT WE WILL TAKE IT.
THESE CHANGES ARE DISCRIMINATORY, NON-FAMILY, AND INVITING UNIONS.
I SAY COME ON UNIONS. THE TIME HAS COME.......
That guy above me is an idiot. The new scheduling structure is for people that abuse our willingness to employee. People come in to our company and say they can work any hours we give them, and within 2 weeks want to change their availabilities to 7-4 monday-friday. Thats just stupid! How many cashiers do you need on a monday morning at 7 am? honestly? This is a buisness guy! Grow your own brain and stop listening to these union assholes who are in the 'battle against wal mart' to get rich.
To the last comment, I am afraid your wrong, this new schedule change is destroying people's lives, you are talking to a 8 year associate and 15 year associate. We are department manager and have worked the 7-4 shift Monday through Friday and they are taking away our family lives. It wouldnt be so bad if we had a set schedule but they are telling us it will always be different every week and if we have church or kid functions we will have to get someone to switch with us if we want off. It really makes no since, alot of us are scheduled on the same night, so whats the point, have us all there until 10 and no one to help customers in the morning and afternoon.
Oh BOO HOO! So now you have to work and occational night or a Saturday. That doesnt mess up your family life. I am sure if your child has an thing for after school on a certain day you can ask if 1. You can have that day off, you get a weekday off now that you work one weekend day. 2. Ask to leave early on the day of the event. Our store has been doing the schedule change for a while now. Not one department manager stepped down. Apparently some of you are just spoiled brats that like weekends off and a set schedule. For you whiners out there I have a solution.......GO WORK AT A BANK!!!!!!
The entire reason I accepted the dept. mngr possition was for the hours. It certainly wasn't for the extra .50 . I am having to find a new job because of lack of childcare. My son is 2 and deserves to be tucked in at night by his mother. Maybe you shouldn't be so insensative. Do you have a family?
I am a 15 year associate and believe
me, I am not happy with the changes.
It is really not fair that they
are bringing people in with no
job skills and who do not care about
customer service and trying to replace
the long term associates. Sometimes
newer is not always better. Believe me many mistakes are made and not in
Wal-Marts favor.
Things are not going to get any better.
Lee Scott just sold a huge amount of
stock, wonder why? Wal-Mart seems
to not value their associates that
have experience and job knowledge.
I believe that it will hurt their profit when they have all the long term
associates replaced with new people
who don't have any loyalty or job
knowledge. Wait and see. The handwriting is on the wall. Just read it.
Yeah its pretty obvious walmart is going down hill. But what retail doesnt after its time has come. Look at K-mart now. Wal-mart will fall and another will rise like walmart did. I wish Sam could see what the company has gone too. Wal-mart doesnt even express all there 3 beliefs because im sure not seeing repsect for the individual. If that were true people would actually stay there durrr. New changes arent always good either, actually most the ones im seeing are hurting the company. Home office being in charge of all the features and there new polocies. I also think its dumb how they do these donations to make them look good, thats the only reason why there doing it. My store has a lack of teamwork and leadership and the moral is shi**y. Like someone said above if they get rid of the ones who know what there doing that store will have to take a hit to get them trained and even then they wont be good enough as the ones who know what they were doing.
Where is Walmart headed? In the store
I work at it is obvious that the
management team doesn't really care
if the customers are taken care of or not. The teamwork and spirit that used to exist at the store are just
a memory. Management is only interested in making sure they complete
their notes. It doesn't matter if
there are not enough cashiers to
check out the customers. Get the notes.
I have worked at walmart for just under a year now and I really have not run into the problems you people have. Not only do the upper management in my store care about taking care of the customers they sometimes seem preoccupied with it. Also all the employees in my store recently recieved a large bonus because we seriously kicked ass this last fiscal year. So don't tell me that walmart does not care about its employees.
Effective as of March 2008, Walmart has restructured their in-store management. Instead of two co-managers, there will be four co-managers in the store. Wal-Mart has added a new position called "Zone Merchandise Supervisor" commonly known as Zone Manager. Zone Managers work closely with Assistant Managers. All of the Managers work three days on and three days off. Previously, especially at the store that I work at, there were too many chiefs and not enough indians. Now there are the same number of Managers but there are less Managers in the store at one time. Another objective of this new structure is to make sure there are at least two co-managers in the store at all times and to hold the associates accountable for ensuring their area is properly zoned.
I am stuck at my hell hole of a job (Wal-Mart: Receiving Associate). I am trying to escape to something that is way better hopefully. I am sick and tired of them making themselves look like they are such a great company to work for and to shop. Some of the managers totally suck and stupid of course. I wish managers knew or better yet remember how it felt not to be treated fairly because their managers were too busy looking out for the best interest of the company and not in their best interest when they were once employees, which is just wrong. I hate having to help other employees from another department that don't help me and my team in our department and not get paid any extra for doing two jobs. It's stupid how the managers give nearly the whole team a day off on our busiest day and then stop other employees from doing their important work to come and help my team out. This is totally stressing me out and I need some good out of all this if that is ever possible. And Co-Managers and one in particular is getting on my damn nerves with all the harrassment to hurry up and finish unloading the truck knowing we don't have enough help with the biggest truck load you ever seen, How do you deal?
The big concern is the positions that are going from full time to part time. We lost 2 CSM's that were full time ONLY to post part time positions to fill them. This is a effort for the company to not pay benefits for a longer period of time and to save on payroll. If Wal-Mart could find enough part time people for 3rd shift they would only hire part time people.(AND I PROMISE THEY ARE TRYING THAT SOMEWHERE AS A PILOT STORE!) There is NO LONGER full time hours for a new hire unless your are a third shift stocker or a department manager. If you have a kid and you are a single parent DO NOT apply. Wal-Mart is going broke and needs to cut your hours to survive! The number 1 fortune 500 company is going under because your 7 dollars an hour base rate cost to much! If your store has a bad inventory don't count on a bonus. The money HAS TO come from somewhere..OH YA Thats the payroll the one thing they can control,BUT yet they tried to cut loss prevention out of a job and that cost them money in theft. That don't matter they will take it from you and your co- workers hours to make it ALL back. They don't wanna spend money to keep theft down because it is WAY easier to cut your hours in pay to offset their loss and punish the person that tries to serve their customers. I am willing to bet the people behind these dumb ideas are under 3 years of service that could not tell you what CVP,NOF or Prime Item number stands for. If Obama is elected Wal-Mart associates better look in the classifieds because Wal-Mart will be closing stores left and right. The 70/30 split they want for part time 70% and full 30% will be the death blow to the company that was built on values and now is the laughing stock of help wanted classifieds!
Thats the FACTS!
IVE BEEN WORKING AT WALMART FOR 19 YEARS.I USE TO LOVE WORKING AT WALMART BUT AS THE YEARS GO BY IT SEEMS THAT THEY DONT GIVE A JACK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE. ALL THESE CHANGES THAT THEY ARE MAKING WILL COME BACK AND BITE THEM IN THE YOU KNOW WHAT.I DONT HAVE A PROBLEM WORKING SOME WEEKNENDS(SATURDAY AND SUNDAYS)NOT EVERY WEEKEND, THAT IS THE NEW STORE STRUCTURE NOW AND OFF ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.ITS A NEW CONCEPT AND THEY HAVENT TOLD A LOT OF THE STORES OR DEPT. MANAGERS. WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WANTS TO GO TO CHURCH.WHAT IS IT, WALMART DOESNT BELIEVE,ITS OBVIOUS THEY DONT.FOR THOSE WHO SAY ASK FOR TIME OFF OR LEAVE EARLY, THOSE OPTIONS COUNT AGAINST US.WE HAVE TO CALL A 1800 NUMBER WHEN WE ARE LATE,NOT COMING IN ,DEATH, SICKNESS,BAD WEATHER,ECT... IF WE ARE SICK FOR THREE DAYS WE HAVE TO TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE,THAT IS CRAZY.JUST LIKE ROSES, K-MART, BANKS,AND MANY OTHERS ONLY GOD WILL PREVAIL.
CALLING DEPATMENT MANAGERS!NEW STORE STRUCTURE. ALL DEPT. MANAGERS WILL NOW WORK EVERY SAT. AND SUN.WHICH MEANS NO CHURCH ONLY WORSHIP THE DEVIL.TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY OFF.
Ive read all the comments above, and its clear what Wal-Mart is doing, its weeding out the non dedicated. This isnt the 80's where times were good with the company. We are going threw some tough times. Look at it like this way. We are alot more organized than we were even 5 years ago. Rolling out the Market Managers to stay in the Region is just what the company need. Eliminate the cookie cutter stores and focus more on what is important in your market and community. Sure some drastic measures need to be taked to reduce expenses, but its all part of the plan. Once things get going its going to explode. The nations economy will rebound and I want to be right in the middle of the biggest retailer in the world. Hold on all Wal-mart associates. its gona be a bumpy ride, but smooth sailing at the end
weeding out the non-dedicated? you are an dumba$%. i have watched my mother work at wal-mart for almost 15 years. she is the hardest working, most dedicated woman at her store. her department consistently tops all the other departments in the state --- she is a machine. however, now she is getting jerked around like the other department managers - oh you now work sunday's, your schedule is 5 to 2, you have leave your department every day to zone an aisle in groceries, you have to do an hour on the fitting room phone, stock your own department at 5 in the morning even though you don't get shirt differential --- so, basically, you only get to spend an hour in your own department so that your department is going to be in the Shi&&er and you will lose your job. its ACTUALLY CLEAR THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF THE DEDICATED LONG TERM DEPARTMENT MANAGERS BECAUSE THEY MAKE MORE THAN 10 AN HOUR AND THEY ARE VESTED IN THEIR BENEFITS. its a shame. i can't stand obama, but if his policies can force a union into walmart --well maybe it would be worth it. sam walton would be horrified to know what they are doing to families...
Does anyone have anymore information on the new management structure with the zone merchandise supervisors? I read the comment that this would be affective march of 08, but my wal-mart still has the same old structure and schedule as of jan 09. What the word on the streets?
The new structure is still in pilot status
The store I work at is participating in the ZMS program. They get pulled all the time to work other areas, and are given such a big load, that some already quit, and another wants to step back down to a Merchandise Supervisor. I was asked if I was going to apply for it over "Entertainment." I immediately said no, because I knew better than that. Looks like I made the right decision, because the job sucks. The ZMS over Electronics is literally NEVER in the department, or having anything to do with it. She is always working in Toys or Sporting Goods. I would never go to a salary posistion, or higher than a Merch. Supervisor at Walmart. I wouldn't doubt if our store manager was the devil in his spare time. He is a hypocritical liar, and doesn't care about any associate in the store. He only cares about his huge annual bonus check. He couldn't be more dumb either. He actually asked one day how to turn on a display TV. Goodness, I don't know where they find these Store Managers.
Today there was a notice put up that our job codes are changing. Is this part of the new structure?
To Anonymous,
Yes some regions are going to a new store structure which job code changes, here is the bad news. Some jobs are changing a level or two but you will not receive any pay increase for that. Anyone moving up after the start date however will receive the pay increase, now the punch in the gut. If you step down, it appears from the Wal-Mart computer, you will lose pay you never received. To be clear if you were moved up two pay grades you receive no compensation, but if you step down you will lose pay for those two pay grades. In addition, we were not informed that the change had already taken place without our knowledge. Welcome to Wal-Mart
from my understanding all the stores should have the Zone Merchandise Supervisors in place by now... and some of the fast pace stores like the one i'm in just added another ZMS position called a Cost - Zone Manager, the position i'm currently in) which means the ZMS over costs is responsible for the merchandise over Meat, Deli, Produce, 97 wall, seafood, Fresh Bakery, Commercial Bread, Deli and that's it ...
Obama , WalMart , Unions --- Good!!!
Anyone know who the District Manager at the Walmart in Bethel Park, PA is? Supposedly she looks like she stepped off the pages of Playboy?
Don't forget the Store managers meeting, that has all the store managers p.i.p.'ing their assitants to get them out of the markets or to force them to quit or take a demotions. Watch out for Carmen(L.Z.) and her market team. If your in her market, your not safe. Unless of course you know how to get on your knees and kiss her booty. But all those positions are taken so, everyone else is out of luck. She is 1 step away from being named in a lawsuit.
You all have it all wrong. Walmart has done more for associates in the past years than many poeple realize. Did you know that most management have money payroll deducted out of their paycheck and put into an associate in critical need account. This account is used to help associates in need. They get a grant, up to $1000, and never owe one penny back to the fund.
Walmart stores are running better than they ever have. Walmart pays above the industry average and pays one third of medical benefits ofr all associates enrolled in health benefits. See, nobody wants to talk about those things, only the negative. Does Walmart make mistakes, yes, and doesn't deny it. However, people embelish the facts a bit and makes Walmart seem so bad. Do the research... Educate yourselves... Look around, where are poeple gettgin fired and downsized from? Not Walmart, theri corporate annual turnover is only 44% - must not be soo bad - way better than industry average. Come on people, wise up and stop letting public opinion snow you over!
Thank you to the person above me, I fully agree with you. I work for Walmart in El Paso YX and I love it. This is the second time (worked there from 1997 to 2002 and left due to husband military duty in Germany). I came back in Nov. 2007 as a cashier, got promoted to CSM in March 2008 and today I was pomoted to Frontend Zone Supervisor. Walmart is what you make it like any other job. If you are willing to work, management will see it and you will be able to move up in the company. For all those who complained about the hours, YOU made the choice to work in retail, do you think any other retail store will give you 7 to 4? You are in the wrong business, leave the space to those who really want to work in retail!!!!
Walmart is planning for the future, making its stores a better place for the customers and the associates.
Thank you for that comment. I have had many friends who got promoted to management positions in a short period. Why? they showed the desire, commitment, organization skills, commitment, and dedication to do the best job possible. Many people feel that showing up on time, putting in eight hours, and never missing work is called dedication. All of that is an expectation when you are earning a paycheck anywhere. What sets associates apart are, the ones that embrace their work to excel and move up. Wal-Mart has many programs to help associates in need and that want to advance. Wal-Mart works with many companies to get associates discounts in many areas including child care. The bonuses are based not only on sales, also the associates commitment. This commitment is improving the customers/members experience in their departments and the whole store or club. Retail is very demanding and it takes a big commitment to work in that environment. The times have come where associates in any company or industry have to show that they are willing to do their best and prove it. Not just to punch in and punch out. Be thankful that we have a job in these tough times and it is only up to the individual to prove themselves to keep it or lose it. I also have a child and I never forget that I need my job at any cost to support him.
I agree with the last few comments.. You get out what you put in with Walmart. If the company was based on seniority for management positions would the dept mgrs that work so hard to get their 7-4 mon-fri shifts really want the 48-52 hour a week schedule working nights, weekends, closing shifts, etc. Really people everyone that went to Wal-mart for a job went for 1 reason to get a paycheck. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never heard of people working at a Walmart for free !!!! Everything Walmart does for it's associates such as: profit sharing, 401K, Stock Purchase Plan, Myshare Bonus, and don't forget Walmart pays 2/3's of your insurance. These are a few benefits that Walmart does for their associates not because the federal goverment says they will do , but because they want to make life better for associates. During these economic bad times isn't it great that you don't need to worry about company downsizing, closing stores. Theirs a saying I heard from a friend here in Flordia and I think it fits the world we're in: Some people just can't be satisfied, their's people out their that would complain if they won the lottery and had to drive an hour to get the money. Come on people really!!! If you want to receive better pay than climb the corporate ladder like the 90% + of your upper management did !! Thanks,
Our store is interviewing for the ZMS positions this week...All they told us is that you work 8-5 or 11-8...including one ful weekend a month.....does anyone know if they have a set schedule....like on rotation..do they ever get 2 days off in a row? We were also told that the departments as we know them would be changing and the dept. managers hours as well....I would like to know more about this position before the interview...any help would be appreciated....
For some of you, I don’t think you see the clear point I was a co-manager with 10 years experience of management in wal mart, I agree as a company there is a lot of opportunity to grow but it comes with a lot of time spending at work than home in the past I worked at different stores every were you go it’s all the same. There are managers who makes the associate life living hell, in recent experience a new store was opening and I was told to do background check on employees if there were injured on the job before do you think this is right? If I was hurt doing my job I can’t transfer to other store? The second thing is I was told I got promoted because I was black, they needed black management for them to look diversified regardless of my bachelors degree and all the years I spent working hard, there are a lot of things I know it happened in the stores I thank god I don’t work for them anymore.
All of you uneducated employees wake up and look around stand up for you right, they are taking advantage of the American people by dominating all the retail business they make you feel like there is no job for you beside wal-mart. trust me all this law suit are real even if they cover it with money.
So back to the new managment structure thing I heard their were a lot of changes coming really soon and that all of the pilots were ending and it was going company wide. Does anyone know the new set up?
OMG!!!!have you heard about the timed tasks...they say when you clock in your first task of the day will be there and you have so long to get it done...then when it is done you swipe your badge again for the next task???????did'nt get alot of info on this...lots of questions out there anybody know anything about the ne structure? lots of meetings this week...they will tell us soon maybe!!!!!
To the fomer Co-Manager that posted above... If you worked a lot of hours over your schedule I can tell you, as a Store Manager for ten years now, you worked over becasue you were not getting the job done in the time you are scheduled. Just like I would tell someone on my management team, if your lack of planning and follow up constitutes you working longer, that your fault. I have worked in many different markets and many different stores across the country. There is one constant, the people that worked over were the ones that could not really manage and lead to begin with.
To the later post... the new Workload Driven Scheduling information is rolling out by region. Some regions are going to it now. My region goes very soon. I have already been in the three day meeting that covered all of the changes. I can't discuss the details right now, but they are good. They put the focus on teh customer, which we should have done years ago. We make schedules that take care of customer needs, not cater to associates request. Going to sting a bit in the beginning, but worth it in teh end. We all have to know that this is the right thing to do for our associates, customers and shareholders.
I've worked at wal-mart for several years now. It's better than my old job but not as good as I was led. I spent 1 yr in grocery, 2 yrs in hardlines and finally got promoted to dept. manager. I worked really hard to get that position and proved my self impressibly my 1st year. Then the old dept. manager wanted her job back (she stepped down due to family illnesses). All of a sudden upper management was picking with me and telling me I wasn't doing my job. I had no associates and no help from anybody. I would come in and my department wasn't zoned, I was left with return carts. Not to mention I could never get a telexon. Finally I hurt myself and since returning to work I've been getting the evil eye from mangement. I'm really sacred they're trying to get rid of me. I'm trying to support a family and keep my comments to myself, in this economy it sucks to be there but it's stable.
I know something is going down because management has been having more secret meetings. More meetings with us and cuttting our hours. Even Rome fell. Some the people in Bentonville needs to realize bigger doesn't mean better and The bigger you are the hearder you fall.
First off I just want to say, if you don't like working at Wal-mart, leave. It's pretty simple. They have the "open door" for a reason, use it!
Secondly, the ZMS positions that are currently being rolled out in our district. I can honestly say that I am excited about the new structure. You'll have rotating shifts, 8-5s and 11-8s during the work week. Work one full weekend a month and have one full weekend off a month. The other two weeks as far as your days off are either two split days and the other week will be two off together(Weds and Thurs). To me, the pay raise will benifit my family life if I qualify for an interview, which I hope I do as we have several in our store who bust their butt's to get the job done!
Two years ago when all the "flights" were dropping and the major change was being instituted, it sucked. I was there, I know how it was but we all had to adjust. We worked as a team to get the job done.
Wal-mart is all about change. Change is what makes or breaks a company and the changes that I see are going to make our store. Our management team Rocks! I can't say enough good things about my stores team.
I feel as a department manager it's my responsiblity to see to it that ALL of the departments in our store have help. I am a total store department manager. I've worked the front end, I've managed the back room under ICS to remix. If your working remix and only have two people to unload that truck then a department manager should give up one of his/her people to go help and then see about other areas of the store that can get by with a person or two helping to unload. Team work is what makes us the store we are! My job description doesn't just say that I MUST stay in my area! The job description I signed said that I would go where I was needed, and I do!
For those of you complaining about hours, help in your areas or thinking it's all about you, well, it's not. Use your open door, follow the chain of command. Show your management team respect and if they can't answer your questions, call your Market manager.
Yes, there are some things that the management team can't share with us. Have you ever thought that they just don't have all of the answers yet? They may not want to say anything until they know EVERYTHING there is to know about it first. I know I don't like it when I'm not told about something that has to do with my area, but I deal with it because I know my store manager has to get his/her info correct first! He/she sure as hell doesn't tell us what happend at the Kansas City meeting before he's or she's gone, do they?
Be realistic. I have a steady paycheck unlike some of my family that worked for General Motors up until this year who had 20 yrs in or more. Your work is what you make it! If you go in miserable, you'll make your fellow associates miserable and then the customers miserable! Who pays your check?? THE CUSTOMERS DO!!
Person above I'm so happy you're Wal-Mart is heaven. I think most would agree ours isn't. My management team doesn't welcome feedback. Our dept. managers are divided into sereval cliques.
1. Day one group.
They sit at their own table. Do not welcome the unfamiliar. Won't help anybody (not even each other). They shop on the clock. Take vacations together. Cry to management when they can't get their way and get help as soon as they snap their fingers. Mangement knows they do this stuff.
2. New clique
Made up of 4 girls that have been at our store for about 6yrs. They drink tea, coffee, mt. dews on the floor. Lay on top of the paint counter. Don't even go to the floor til 8:30. Scream, yell, somedays don't even do their freight. Very rarely do their own mod. They pawn they paperwork and notes on their people. Come and go as they please take 2 hour lunches. Shop on the clock. Even get their ears pierced on co. time. I have personally walked by them when management is touring. One is laying across the paint counter, one is drinking coffee, and one is drinking mt dew and they exchange greetings and nothing is said.
3. Easy go-ers
Work hard. Keep to theirselves. Don't bother anybody, don't really help anybody. They stay out of the politics.
4. Forgotten ones
Never get any help. Work hard. Have to work more weekends than our counterparts. try to comminicate with but gets ignored and overlooked. Feel neglected and unappreiciated. Plus side I love the 5 people in my area (the DP's). We worked together. Help each other lift, do mods, build features. When one of us goes on vacation we all chip in to help.
I am very thankful for my job but that doesn't mean I'm going to get rolled over.
I don't know how I feel about this new program. The way it was explained to us in our meeting was. You get $2 extra plus the pay grand. Work 40 hrs. 8-5 and 11-8. You're a ass. manager back-up.
I HAVE QUESTIONS MAYBE SOME OF YOU CAN ANSWER:
Our store is going to this program next month.
1. do these zone people work freight.
2. what do they do on the days our ass. and zms are there.
3. are their jobs being replaced (we were told maybe).
4. are the zsm being fair or using favortism to their advantage.
I don't care so much about the change. I just don't need anymore to take care of. I have 2 departments and no help ever. We are already on a skeleton crew and
can't give proper customer service or get the shelves filled b/c we have to many hands in the pot.
I WELCOME ALL FEEDBACK!!!!!!!!!
I believe that Wal-Mart as we know it is going to be gone!!!!There are so many changes coming about...I was lucky enough to get a zms position and the classes start next week....Not sure what is down the road but I hope it is all good.....
In my area we are currently going to this new structure . our market mgr tells us career preference will not be used to place us . we will be on a tier rating , we have 12 assistant managers . only 8 positins , the rest will be support managers or 201's . we wont have the option for zome mgr till all hourly supervisors get a shot first ..........we are so screwed!
Try being an instock supervisor for third shift, one of four, being one of the two that are actually worth a damn, the other two being horrible at the position, and being told you have 8 weeks to go down a pay rank, apply for the new positions which are day positions, or get let go after 8 weeks because we now only have 2 support managers/instock supervisors for overnights instead of 4. This completely being based on longitivity with the company rather than which supervisors actually do their jobs overnight.
we were told about the zone managers today! our store will have 7 or 8. does this mean we will loose 7 or 8 dept. managers. i can not afford to loose my job, and i do not want to be a zone manager. been with the company 10 years
what department are you over?
jewelry
I just applied for a zone mgr position. can anyone rem some of the questions for the interview, so i can kinda be prepared. thanks
are dept. manager hours changing
We are currently going thru the restructure....
Our store has 7 zms....
Hardlines...TLE,sporting goods,toys,garden center, seasonal
Homelines...Photo,electronics,wireless,hardware,furniture,domestics,housewares...
Fashion....Mensware,ladiesware,shoes,jewelry,and intimates...
Grocery has 2...Cost departments, and regular which includes HBA and cosmetics...
Backroom....
They only intervued current dept managers or csm for zms positions.
We had a total of 9 Asst. Mangers, we have kept 7, two have moved up to shift managers (new term for co's).
Some area's were combined at first, then the home office decided to allow current dept. manager to retain there depts till they step down, then will be absorb by the area, known as a pod.
The department manager have been working one day, two times a month, but in exchange they get a 3day weekend.
Hope this helps....change is the key for wal-mart sucess, so go with the flow.
our store they combined shoes and jewery....lots of combinations to departments....department manager hours will change....no date on that yet..
My store is also going to the zms system. 4 total in the store that i know of are training now. and i keep hearing that the department mmanager jobs will not be filled they are just waiting for them to retire or quit, im my openion if they make the zms do the work of 4 or 5 department managers... well they wont last long. ive also heard this system had been tried a few times over the last 20 years and it never has worked, they eneded up makeing the helpers play department managers, and at part time thats a bad thing.
anderson indiana
hba-cosmetics
jewlery-shoes
boys/girls-infants
toys-sportinggoods
domestics-furniture
82-cndy
all put together over the last 2 days more to come maby
UPDATE FROM NEWEST MEETING ABOUT CHANGE.
4/8 of our new zone managers are at their week long meeting.
The 2 new shift manager (co- man.) has yet to be filled.
Our store manager met with all the newly combined dept. managers before/after lunch (beware: THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE IN THE LUNCHROOM).
Later we had a group meeting with the masses. It lasted about 90 minutes. We were informed of the combinations. Staffing and scenerios.
Combo's
pets-PAPER GOODS/CHEMICALS
TOYS-sporting goods
fabric/crafts-STATIONARY
WIRELESS-electronics
jewelery-SHOES
BOYS-girls/infants
seasonal(18)-LAWN & GARDEN
HOUSEWARES-domestics/furniture
candy-IMPULSE(82)
FROZEN-dairy
and rumor has it
MENSWARE-accesories/intimates
or
LADIESWARE-accesories/intimates
We were told we "might" have to re-apply for our jobs and make sure both of the depts. are in your career preference (or the system will automatically bump you out). the best person will get it and the other will be a "floater".
As of right now (with no direct answer) The one not picked will retain dept. man title. Until a home is found. Pay drop and hours are still unclear (they are SCREWED). If a home is not found within a descent amount of time (we're guessing) it is all gone.
!!!!!!!!!!!!*******!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF ONE PERSON IN NEWLY COMBINED AREA GOT PROMOTED TO A ZMS or ZM YOU ARE NOT SAFE. THE JOB IS STILL GOING TO BE POSTED.
I understand that in order for a business to grow (or rebound) in this economy you have to restructure. I'm worried about losing my wages. I don't even care about the comfortable hours. Also I'm afraid of not being able to perform to the level I have set for myself. I try everyday 100% to do my best be there for the customer. There are being very vague about relining sales associates.
PLEASE IF ANY STORE IS ALREADY IN PLACE WITH THE NEW SYSTEM. PLEASE COMMENT. GOOD, BAD, I WANNA TO BE PREPARED FOR AS MANY SCENERIOS AS POSSIBLE.
I hope for the customers sake this works.
Hello to All
At 46 , I have decided to join the company. I do have management skills and 2 College Degrees. I chose 3rd shift Receiving /Stocking
on purpose rather than try to enter their Management Program. I have worked one month and Love it. I understand that I have to work at least 6 months before getting a promotion or before I can enter the Leadership Program. Our Store is a SuperCenter but not 24 hours , so I do not really get to encounter any of the Store Management their any Store or Managers on here who think have chosen the Correct Path ? Any advice on how to jump start the Leadership process ? I really want to learn as much as I can.
The new SOTC will be the right thing for the company, the stores and especially the customer. The new SOTC structure, coupled with the new workload driven scheduling, is going to make the operations in the buiness more seemless and transparent to the customer. Speaking as a Store Manager with the company for 9 of my 15 years, it is the second best thing to ever happen to Walmart. It gives the SM time to truly administer, the shift managers the chance to actually run the store and the ASM a chance to run the operations knowing a ZMS/ZS is in place to run the floor.
I know some of you are freaking out about the Departmet Consolidation. There is a modular/price change team coming soon though. Imagine being a department manager and you dont work freight, set modulars or do price changes. If the workload drive shcedules are stafed, they wont have to ever touch a a zone defense again either. What are they to do??? They will focus on in-stock and customer service. They will be given the time to be the specialist in their area that we need for them to be.
I hope everyone sees that now, of all times, is the time to be with Walmart. If you havent noticed, Walmart has done exceptionally better that market and industry through the reccession. Now is the time to accelerate change and take advantage of the success and good fortune that Walmart has and transform it into a company that will come out on top even when the economy bounces back. Our customer have asked for it for years. You will all be pioneers in a new retailing and business leadership revolution. What other company is doing what Walmart is doing during these tough times? Nobody... Sieze the day!
Imagine being a departmanager being asked to come in the office and told that you lost the job you have been doing for the last 7 years..ohh and we are not really shure where we have place for you what about cashier???
change is needed, but walmart has no respect for the individual they never did care for there assocciates and never will they are just a cost. Management is fully trained and instructed to keep the associates at storelevel in a as vaque possible state of mind as possible so the dont brake down in tears and still somewhat carry the load on there bags. In the past the position of dm was respectable now we dont need you no more!!
We at walmart dont believe in third party rep and i understand why..
does anybody know when these changes will take place
these changes are the flights of a few years back that got halted after the negative feedback and the leaked memo of suzan chambers 0n how to "take care" of associates
These are NOT flights from a few years back. The person before has no idea of what they are talking about. The Chambers memo was regarding health care and how taking care of associates would actually lower cost for the company in lower health care claim payouts which would in turn reduce premiums.
The changes are rolling out by region. Right now Region 47 is going through it, others to follow this year. The entire company will go through it by end of Q1 FYE2011.
i thought that was about sending fat people to the parking lot to get some buggies in the hope they would quit....google is my friend
What will the new Department Manager hours be?
Dept. Mgrs. schedules are 3 days 8-5 and 2 days 11-8. That is the store structured hours, however rotating weekends. One weekend you may work Sat. and the next weekend you may work Sun. But one full weekend a month off.
ZMS position isn't all that bad, yes you have to work evenings and weekends. However don't think your safe as a dept. mgr. either. They will be eleminating that position and re-naming it too. Zone Merchandiser. You will also have to work evenings and weekends.
You should apply for ZMS and get paid the extra money. But don't apply if you are a slacker. It's about the same as being a support manager. It's good if you are someone that gets bored being in the same department all the time. I like to change departments about once a year. And yes you may your ass off, but remember if you don't like WalMart. Go get a job somewhere else. These changes are best for the company and for our customers. It's about business not about your personal lives. This company has scheduled around it's associates for years and everyone is spoiled brats. I have been with WalMart 15 years, and moved to many departments. I actually love working for this company, it has given me the opportunity to raise my children and pay my bills.
I heard that the department manager schedules will be 3 - 7-4 and 2 - 12:30-9:30pm
What will happen with the CSM positions with the restructure? Do they get an actual shift schedule? Who will they work for? I'm a CSM, and I enjoy the intense craziness of my position. Is there a ZMS position that will be in charge of CMS?
How will the grocery setup be with the restructure. This is how my store works now....We have 4 Assistant managers working 60 + hours/week (not including night crew) stocking groceries all day long, because our associates are total slackers, plus we're on a hiring freeze. I feel bad for our AM's, they walk out at the end of the day totally frazzled. Will the ZMS's simply take their frazzled place? I don't look forward to that kind of punishment.
I am really interested in that CSM question. That's about the only topic that hasn't been covered.
All our department managers are kissing big-time azz right now for ZMS positions. It's funny to actually see them do their jobs for a change. I wonder if the'll go back to their old ways once promoted...
TLE and Lawn & Garden haven't been covered yet. How are they consolidated? Seems they are somewhat specialized.
I think 50% of the ZMS's will ask to step down after they experience what the job is like. Another 25% will be asked to step down, especially when they can't deliver during the Christmas season. I pity the toys/sporting goods ZMS, those sections are both a mess 365 days/year the way it is. I don't intend to apply until after the first and second ZMS turnovers, which will be in January, I imagine. By then, the picture should be pretty clear. Right now everyone's looking at the pay hike and simply hoping they can do the job.
Where is the part of the restructure where our ASM's get their butts out of the smoke room while poking on their telxons and directing vendors from their walkies, then going to Applebee's for lunch? I want to be an ASM.
Ok get it straight....lol
ZMS Zone Merchandise Supervisors are about the same as support manager.
2 ZSM over Grocery
1 ZSM over Electronics
1 ZSM over Softlines
1 ZSM over Hardlines
********************************
These next two positions are not called ZMS cause they do not merchandise.
1 ZS Zone supervisors over front end and 1 over receiving warehouse.
Total 7 positions approx. for the store unless your store does less volume.
This is a $2.00 increase.
The zone supervisor over the front end will be over operations and cash office too.
L&G and automotive is covered by hardlines ZSM, I think. However you will still have asst. mgrs. just less of them. Asst. mgrs will be more involved in operations and more depts.
Comments above are pretty accurate. The combination of depts. all sound right.
If you are a strong dept. mgr. then apply for the new position and get paid the extra money. You could get told to do it and not get anything.
Iam just so sad where walmart is going i came to walmart many years ago ..I know iam a accosiate at will, but I believe that it schould be worth something that you invested yourself as a person for so many years instead of being shoved arround regardless of your homelife .It is not right
It seems a little apparent to me that the dept mgrs in my store were chosen for zone mgrs based on the fact that they were dispensable, and if another dept mgr has to take on their dept as well as still running their own, then i see that dept mgr as being the most qualified for the job bc the store mgr obviously felt like they could handle the xtra responsibility.maybe im wrong...... Any thoughts???
I have been to the ZMS meeting for our district and I know alot of these associates. They are more than qualified for this position. And your thoughts are wrong ... You don't know what all the ZMS's position entails. Maybe the ones picked at your store won't make it. But this position isn't a cake walk.I said the position is simular to a support mgr but the responsibilities are far greater.
Has any store that has recently began the new ZMS program had department managers (or combined departmaent managers or merchandise supervisors that were department managers) change their scheduled work hours from 7-4 monday through friday or had their store manager give them a date that it will be changed to anything else?...if so what schedule are they working? Is a future schedule change for department managers all speculation at this point?
I wanted to know if anyone had any ideas to find out when the ZMS program will be coming to our area and how are they picking what region or district goes next. If anyone have any information that is helpful let us know because this waiting around to see whats going to happen to your position is stressful
I know at our walmart,We got a new store manager and she started make drastic changes,People where fired left and right,people were asked to step down.I have been a department manager for 3 years now,there exceptations are high,Im suppose to have under 50 outs in dry grocery i have 4 associates under me who work 30 to 35 hours.Im scared to loose my job,i have already been pulled into the office and told that I need to do more.Im in the pennsylvania region and from what i understand wv allready started it and we start in december full blown.Of course no one has said really much about it,It just sucks that there going to wait till the last minute and put people through all that shit.But i guess a billion dollar company dont care about the little people,The people that strive there business,We are firing associates that have been there 10 years or more,lets think about it they get paid higher so lets go after those people first then maybe they will lower the starting wage even less,there a method behind there madness.There not a billion dollar company for nothing maybe the new system will be great for walmart,Maybe it will change walmart,all and all how many associates will stay,I bet they will have more of higher turn over rate,Got to love america keep screwing the little people so the rich get richer,Maybe we should elect a poor person for president see where that goes,I bet it would help the country.
I agree on electing a poor person for president. LOL Maybe we can tax the rich just for having so much money. And stop giving large tax breaks to bribe companys like walmart for coming to your community. But then I guess us poor people wouldn't have a job.
These changes with walmart seem to be done in phases. We are waiting til the 15th to find out which asst Mgrs that we are still keeping. We have just gotten our ZMS positions. We were told that Dept mgrs were going to have to step up and run these depts. They will post the new dept mgrs Merchandise supervisors positions soon, don't know when but soon. The positions will be posted and dept mger will have to apply for their own jobs. If you can't handle the stress now, you will have a problem. Condition yourself and continue to do a good job and earn one of these new positions. ( or find another job) Thats all there is to it, you don't have a choice. So don't worry yourself sick over it.
They are getting ready to transition my store to having "Zone Managers". Although I am a brand new Department Manager, I have already had two asst mngrs come to me asking if I would apply for their area as a Zone Manager. Does anyone know the pay and hours (I am in Tampa, Florida) and they are supposed to be making this change in October 2009.
We are almost 100% ready for the new system. Our remodel hasn't occured yet. Most of our department managers have a home. I think 7 are currently w/o a dept. or battling it at.
I was wondering about the comment on a modular/price change team. I am currently a dept. man. I tnk I would step down in a heartbeat to do that as long as I didn't lose that much money and the hours were ok. Then again if honestly didn't have to work the freight and could get help I'd stay. It's rough b/c I'm by myself and have been since day one and I have two dept. I'm not lazy but freight, paperwork and meetings for 2 separate depts is to much for one person. I just don't want to get fired.
Anyone with any input is gladly welcomed.
This is for the CSMs who want to know what is going on. I currently work in a brand new store that was built from the ground up last year. We were automatically on the new structure from the start. The front-end is very chaotic where I'm at. I transferred from an older store where we were known as a Customer Service Manager-new store structure you are a Customer Service Supervisor (CSS). At our store, it seems like we were downgraded compared to my other store, where I helped with the scheduling of cashiers, hiring, and coaching issues. At this store, we aren't allowed to talk to cashiers without a manager, we aren't allowed to coach, we aren't allowed to really help with the schedule. There is no such thing as a 'lead' or 'head' CSM/CSS. All of us have rotating schedules. Sometimes, I might come in at 6:30 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. or 5:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. for mornings and then come in 2-11 the next day. It is very chaotic because we can't help with scheduling. The Assistant wants to do EVERYTHING, with no input from us. Also, the Zone Supervisor over the frontend here will be helping our Assistant with running the frontend. Essentially, the Zone Supervisor over the front-end will be like a Head CSM on steriods. They will be able to hire, coach, schedule, etc., just like the front-end Assistant. I hope this helps you a little. CSMs are often the most overlooked hourly manager in the whole store, it seems like.
They take too much time putting these phases into place. By the time we get this mod/ price chance team, we will all be crazy. It seems as though most things are going to overnights. All stockers, strongest management etc. We don't have our new dept mgrs lined up yet. and we should get our 2 new co mgrs this week.
The buzz is at my store is that we are not getting a mod team. Im like you i would step down from dept mgr in a heartbeat to do that. I am tired of all the pressure that is put on me and no appreciation for it. But i am a single parent and i need the money too bad and i have to take what is put on me. I have to do my dots price changes rollback and sem flags was cards feature tracking, mods and whatever notes i am given daily, and usually w no or little help at all. it is just so frustrating.Its also not fair that you are xpected to have just as perfect a dept as another dept twice as small as urs!! its just not fair, but im old enough to know life is not fair. I will prevail i still believe in the original beliefs of sam walton. and i will not let them bring me down!!
I just applied for a zone mgr position. can anyone rem some of the questions for the interview, so i can kinda be prepared. thanks
Can you remember any of them at all?
Some of the questions are based on competencies, what they are im not sure ?
there 4 questions based experiences you have had at work and how you handled them. at least that was how many interview went and i got the position
Our Zone Merchandise Supervisors just came back from training this week and being an Asst. I am exceptionally pleased with the SOTC structure. It will allow assistants the opportunity to focus on the aspects of business to make it better for our customers/associates alike. This is perfect.
The ones who were promoted to ZMS love their new position and have no arguments about the schedule. They know that in retail things change. Its the nature of the beast.
I've been with the company for 6 yrs and started as a cartpusher (stayed in that position for 9 mths) this July was my 4 yr anniversary as Asst. and still love my company as much as I did on day 1. Its all about the 3 Basic Beliefs. Follow them and remember what Sam envisioned for us all. My wife is a Co-Manager and my son who is an infant will one day work at Wal-Mart to help pay for his college.
Great company with great people!
Question for the assistant above... I became a ZMS and want to know about the new Task Management. I just found out about it, is it difficult to learn? Are they going to cut back on daytime positions ie. Dept mgrs and daytime associates that we are going to run our butts off and get abused. I am looking forward to it also but am scared that Im going to get abused.
No. You will not run your butt off and we are not cutting back on the daytime coverage. The hours of the Dept. Mgrs that promoted to ZMS will be pushed into salesfloor associate hours. This will actually increase the amount of coverage you have.
Task Management is very easy to learn. Sign in, generate, assign, complete, assign some more etc. Very easy process to learn.
You will not get abused. Well you shouldnt get abused. I dont know what store you are at or how the management is there. Its about managing one level down and one level up. Assistants shouldnt go to your Dept. Mgrs and you shouldnt go to the store manager. Store manager manages to Co or Asst (depending on your store size) assistant manages to ZMS manages to Dept. Mgr manages to sales associate.
Which ZMS area did you get?
Congrats on the position!
Asst Mgr above... Have they decided which asst mgrs are staying in your store and were you one of them? What state are you in? So this is all new to you too and your opinion could still change. I hope you are right about how things should go. I still believe some some will get used and abused. I do love my job and this company. It has been really good to me, in return I have worked my a** off. I hope to continue my employment till I retire.
How will this Task manager stuff and score card stuff affect the Claims, Invoicing, Directs Receiving, Reclamation, DSD Grocery Receiving associates
I heard they may be on a score card but how
does anyone know
They have to deal with all that paperwork, checking vendors and Hazmat stuff,sending back
I do not think it changes anything about their job
how could it
the job they do can not be timed
there is too much to it
they have to stay on the phone,(on hold most of the time) use the fax machine, talk to vendors, talk to the Home office
Pour out Hazmat in the correct place
never know how much they have to check in or send back
do recalls
followup on invoices and paperwork hanging in the computer
you name it
they have too much going on to be on any one task
at a time
most of the time they are handling 5 things at a time
cause they can not finish the first before something else pops up in the middle
then they have to go back to finish the other things
I used to work those areas
Still no one is saying what is happening to dept managers that aren't getting selected as ZMS. If the TLE and Hardware managers don't get selected then that means someone has to step down with the combining of those two depts. How does walmart plan to tell a dept manager of 10+ years that they no longer have that position.
plain and simple "you have to step down"
does anyone know about the claims, invoicing, dsd, reclamation
Yes, eventually dsd, claims, invoicing, personnel and upc will be gone too. The items that are returned by customers at the service desk will get a label put on it from the service desk. And it will be taken to the claims area, put on a skid, shrink wrapped. Then sent to the DC for them to process. As for personnel the new timeclock already takes care of your missed punches and most of the hiring process is done on the computer already. So the only thing left is filling out the rest of your paperwork like I 9's and that will be done and sent in by the asst mgrs. It will not be done at store level. But thats in the future...At this time it will not effect their positions.
Have you heard about the new timeclock roll out...it's part of task management too. Instead of using a telxon you will be scanning the timeclock for your next assignments.
As for the dept mgrs that are left witout positions...one will come available soon. Cause not everyone will be able to hang on to their positions and quit.
I just think that walmart is going down the shitter,there not a family oreinted business there out to make money,there out to screw the little people.They get richer while we get poorer,maybe everyone should boycot walmart.Plain and simple walmart sucks.
are department mgrs that dont apply for the new positions going to loose their depts.or are they still staying in there depts as team leads. And, if so does anyone know if they loose money and what hours will they work?
dept mgrs have to apply for something. It has to be something within your pay grade to keep your same pay rate. You can't stay in limbo forever, you have to apply for something within a certain time period. So you should apply for the new positions. Do you want to be a member of the ICS team or a cashier cause thats what you will become. Daytime stockers will be mostly part time.
You need to think about the business and the customers. We do most of our business during the day. We think "they are in our effing way" but actually, you are in their way. See it makes since to stock and run our business at night. Then customers will buy everything during the day. If this was your business...you would do the same. We are just changing the way we do business. Don't be a hater... So now if you want a job at WalMart, you must conform to their demands from our lovely customers.
So I guess checking in Directs, checking in local vendors, is done at the warehouse----uhu
what about what the invoice clerk does
why then did they get a Claims Supervisor to deal with Haz mat
no way that can be shipped wrong
I do not think you know what you are talking about
no way could they change all that
You would shrink out
Im not a hater i just think your company sucks,and I wouldnt work there.You will loose all your people and you will have a bigger turnover rate then normal,and for one customers need help and they always will thats there nature wheres this product,do you have this product.Are you goin to carry this product.I know alot of people that shop at walmart at night it sucks they cant even move because all of the pallets and associates in the aisle.I just think its hillarious that you people see this company as like a god.Walmart put so many small business out of business,there stuff comes from overseas somewhere where probably a 5 year old who is getting pennies makes.So you tell me if that right,the customer want to come into store get in and get out,you guys never have any cashiers at any walmart i ever been to.the experience at walmart sucks,just wait youll see one day wal mart will close its door down believe that.
To the person above,
It seems to me like we are doing pretty well. Especially when my store continuously runs 8.5 Customer Experience rating. Or that I have hired 10 people in the past 2 weeks to take care of my customers. Or that my associates continue to get bonuses each quarter because we meet and exceed our plan because "our customers" think we suck. From reading your paragraph I can gather 2 things.
A)You are a hater. Acceptance is a step towards progress.
B) Don't hate on Wal-Mart because you expect everything handed to you. Are you mad because you worked there and couldn't hack it? It's ok retail is not for everyone.
All of the assistants are staying at my store. We are getting 3 more assistants. I dont know if they are going to be transfers or LOIFers. One or the other, I am ready for them to be here.
Our store is the No Problem store. We have no issues and the Mkt Team doesnt bother us so in return our store manager gets what he wants so we are all staying. Which is cool I guess. I dont really have much option unless I wanted to change Mkts or drive 50+ miles one way. My wife has the next closest store so I would have to go further out.
I am in Ky by the way. Sorry almost forgot to answer that part for ya.
No my opinion will stay the same. We have done enough research and the results themselves are pretty impressive so you just have to trust the system and let go. It will be ok I promise. WalMart hasnt let me down yet.
Well smarty pants... I do know what i'm talking about. Yes there will be a hazmat claims supervisor, but claims associates as we know them will not be the same. There will not be two of them in the cage anymore. Right now we have our same 2 claims associates and we just promoted a 3rd person to that claims hazmat supervisor. However ... now we will get rid of the other 2.
I'm telling you that this 3rd person is going to be responsible for making sure that Ics helps get this stuff on a skid and sent out to the DC. ( things will not be done the same as we've known it)
Now ... I used to work in Invoicing and and we pay bills> Right? That will be done mostly at home office too. Most companies pay their bills out of their corp. offices. What makes you think it can't be done? What does the invoicing clerk do that you think is soo important besides being nasty and mean most of the time. ( Do you know anything about the way WalMart pays their bills?) They suck.... Other companies starve cause WalMart always beats them down on prices and pays them late.
I'm telling you that ...I was told by a reliable source and directs will not be done at store level. The products will be sent to the warehouse and they will forward it to you on the overnight truck. See right now special divisions check in the stuff that matters... like jewelry and pharmacy etc. The only directs person we will continue to have for awhile would be grocery.
And I'm not saying all of this is going to happen overnight. I'm saying that this is whats planned to happen.
Does anyone know what will happen to the Jewelry Department Manager? This is a service area with a register and customer service. Jewelry does it's own receiving and claims as well as other paperwork not associated with other departments.
Soo Sorry you think I am a smartie pants, not really trying to be
you really have me wrong I just want to know what is going to happen
I do know invoicing has alot less to do even though they act like they have alot, but how could they if all they do is pay the bills from direct receiving and they are getting less and less to do
But, yes I do know that now Directs seems to have less and less coming in to them
The girl at our store does nothing for about 3 hours till her trucks run then gets finished 3 hours before going home so she does nothing but, goof off in invoicing office
as far as reclamation they have very little then she goofs off or pretends to help in groceries, produce or plain does nothing
And By the way I am a Claims Supervisor
I just wanted to know more and if they are going to try to have some kind of score card or task manager
as that seems impossible to to
with all claims has to deal with
Hazmat, part ordering, repairs, paperwork filing etc.
having to stay on the phone with vendors etc.
By the way where did you get your information
are you no longer a invoice clerk
What do you do now
For the person above who is a Walmart hater
First off you need to go back to school to learn how to spell
But, maybe that was your problem and why you could not do your job at Walmart
Now you hate them
Second, Walmart sells 68% at least of it's goods that are made in good ole USA
Probably more than that now
Get your facts straight before
making your comments
Please
Smartie pants.... I'm just kidding. Its cause you said that you didn't think I knew what I was talking about.
I don't know the details of how it's all going to work, especially this Task Management. However my info comes from a reliable source. I have had heads up on everything and so far it's been right on.
I do not know how this claims thing is actually going to work, just that the statement was "the position will not be there" Nor have I been told when it's going away. I think if you have that new claims supervisor position you would be safe.
I am a ZMS
Yes I know about Jewelry... The dept mgr position will be combined with shoes and have only 1 dept mgr or Merchandise Supervisor when you go on the new program. You will have to apply for this new position.
The Jewelry schedule will be different too. Cause the dept mgrs hours will not be part of the structure. So you will have an open, mid, and close associate. Your hours will be spent running both depts. and managing your people,
Yeah, Which ZMS did you get and how long agoe, you been in it a while
Been in Claims over 25 years
now, Claims Supervisor
I did not apply for ZMS
if I did anything I would go for ASST.
Any idea about how long it will be before Directs rec and Invoicing are history
I'm a Invoice clerk
guys, I've got an interview for ZMS position on Monday, please help me out with some of the questions, if you remember them,
I am sure you do :))))
I am really curious also about the ZMS interview questions. If anyone could please remember what they are, it would be greatly appreciated.
To those who keep posting about the interview questions for the zms position... stop it! if you're qualified and respected for you contribution to your store and managment recognizes this, you'll be fine.
There's no magic answer that's going to get you the job! Your management knows your qualifications and abilities before you even walk in the door. Some would argue that it's all about favoritism or kissing up... but this is a serious change in how the store works, and Store management is serious about getting the right people into these positions.
You'd be better served to be thinking about how you can promote yourself, your experience, your abilities, and your enthusiasm for the position in the interview rather than stressing over the actual interview questions.
we've been asking for these questions, because in most cases they are based on the S-A-R technology which means situation - action - result, so if we're prepared with the situation and best resolution of the problem it would not hurt, we live in competitive world. Thanks anyways
S-A-R doen not matter in the interview. I agree with the person above. I got the ZMS position based on my performance. The questions were just kind of a joke. I was confident that I would get the job cause I work hard everyday and they know it. Your mgmt know who their strongest associates are. Don't worry yourself with the questions. I just got my position 3 weeks ago. And you don't really remember them cause it's stupid. They ask you questions based on customer service and situations that happen everyday. Nothing that your not used to, no systems questions. Just how you would basically handle situations. Hope this helps some. :)
Any ZMS's out there....how are you liking your new position? Are the ASM using you to do work they should be doing and are you able to stay in your zone areas to get your job done. I am a LONG time Wal-Mart associate and Wal-Mart has a tendency to exploit their associates (especially if you're a hardworker) Even though you may be short-handed and understaffed, management will demand even more out of you even though you haven't had a break, etc. I am an extremely hard working associate and have always gotten exceeds and outstandings on my evals. I have been a support mgr, cash ofc mgr, lead Csm, Invoicing/UPC, DSD, Claims, dept mgr., personnel mgr.& it has been my experience that associates can get used and abused. I hope this is not happening to the ZMS's. Any response to this!?!?!
Is it true that the ZMS is a level 7 but with a $2 differential?
that's right
In response to the ZMS getting abused... You have been a support mgr and it's about the same. You always seem to get abused alot when your a dedicated hard worker. And yes so far mgmt doesn't really know what to do with us. We are there as part of mgmt but don't really have any authority. And yes we get the shit jobs that our assistants pawn off on us. I just try to do my job and keep a low profile till its time to go home. I am sooo afraid of telling anything on my asst that will bite me in the butt. See if your asst is a slacker and don't hold people accountable then the job doesn't get done.
And you are the one responsible but you don't have the authority to do anything about it. So when your Co asks you why it isn't done, then you say the assistant wouldn't back you.....it sucks.
That's just what I thought. That has been my experience as a long time Wal-Mart associate. When things go wrong, they always try to find someone to blame. I hope it's not the ZMS's. I am the kind of person that always tries to plan ahead and head off problems, but if your ASM doesn't back you, then you are screwed. What you are reporting is exactly what my experience has been with Wal-Mart. I hope the ZMS's are not the scapegoat for everything. Yes, that really would suck!
For you to be a long time associate you seem to be pretty negative about the company that has given you great opportunities from what I can tell by your previous posting. I personally back all of my ZMS and gave them both of my cell #s so that they could reach me anytime of day with any question they have.
With you being in a leadership position such as this you should be setting a better example for your associates. I am glad that none of my ZMS possess the attitude you have otherwise my store would not operate at the level it does now. You should be ashamed.
And to the one before you-ZMS do have the authority to-otherwise you would not have received the $2.00 differential for the position. Keeping a low profile is an outstanding way to ensure that you are doing everything you can to impact the company that has done so much good for its associates.
ZMS/ZS is a job created so they run the store
to take the grunt work off the Asst.
now all they have to focus on is the customer and making sure associates are held accountable for their
missing work etc.
The schedule will not be deviated
If you are someone who miss alot
you may no longer have a job
ZMS/ZS will take the manuel labor off the Asst.
So now they will have a pie job
as far a no labor
The Asst. job will now be all mental no labor
Asst. are going to be the ones with dream jobs
all they do now is pass on notes from the Co/Shift mgr
to the Zm
do some computer work
check on customers and make sure the associates are coached
work 3 days off and 3 days on
wow what a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
one girl at our store said she was told she did not get the zm job cause her department did not look good enough
that sucks cause they keep her pulled to everyone else's dept
but no one helps her
Well I am soooo glad yhat you are a positive person. However you must not be in a metro store. I have been with walmart 16 years and received all kinds of awards and recognition. I have been asked to move depts several times to go clean up a problem. Hire and train a new dept mgr. I was always willing to do whatever they asked. I have also transferred stores a few times and they are never ran the same.
I am happy for you and your associates that they have a great leader. Not all of us have that! I have a lazy asst that does much of nothing. Anytime you take an issue to him his answer is (Oh well) You have associates stealing time, clocking in and walking around doing nothing. He allows everyone to not come in after the schedule was posted. You NEVER know when your going to have any help.
My Co asked me why things were so bad and I told him that my asst will not let me hold our associates accountable ie I wanted to write up the associate that did NOTHING the entire day. I an the most positive person you would ever meet, I believe the glass is half full and not half empty. If you get my point. I told you I love this company. I think all this new structure should be awesome. But it seems like i'm the only one doing all their work. I sat my dept mgrs mods wile she wondered around. I couldn't even find her. I zone their tables allll the time and I'm still running my old dept as the dept mgr cause they aren't going to give it to anyone. I am pulled in sooo many different directions, I even had another asst tell me I was going to have to step outside the box (meaning my own area) and work in other areas. I am getting worn out. So tell me now that I am soooo negative. Oh and I have my assts cell phone # too so they can call me and ask be to bring them Starbucks
to all the ZM supervisors...what kind of notes are you getting from your shift managers....are the notes helping with the productivity in your store? Have you had the opportunity to tour and make your own notes?
In Reply to the person who posted a0n 8/8/09 @ 9:47pm--Oh, you so misunderstood my comments. I am a super positive person. That's why I get above & outstanding evals. And my Store Mgr. has said to me many times that he wishes everyone in the store had my positive attitude. I would never be ashamed at my documented incredible job performance and enthusiastic attitude about my job. My comments were just stating the true facts about Wal-Mart and how they treat their associates. It doesn't matter whether you agree with it or not...My experience with this company are what the fact is...not my opinion. Because I am so hardworking and willing to do anything, I am exploited. There are many times where I have not even had a break and still asked to do things. Even though I may be in the middle of helping a customer, I am interupted and asked to do something else. I know know this is unbelievable, but it happens ALL the time. I actually work a dept. that checks in its own frieght, and even though I have massive freight to get checked in and customers galore, I will be pulled to different areas or told to help somewhere else. I always do it willingly and with a smile on my face. But, inside I'm thinking "Oh man, how can upper management possible put so much work and stress on one person." I always say yes, that is why they ask me. But there is a point where management has to see what they are doing and stop abusing and exploiting their very best associates. I really love my job and this company but at some point management has to show "Respect for the Individual" and be concerned about what they are doing and asking of some of their associates. This is called exploitation and it happens ALL the time at Wal-Mart. Like I said, this is not an opinion....this is a fact. You denying this would mean you are just not aware of it, or you're just flat out not admitting that this is going on. Please, please be honest!
ZMS's have not come on board yet in my store and I am afraid that the same thing will happen to them as happens to me. I'm afraid they will be overworked and exploited.
I'm afraid they will end up being management's dumping ground for all the work ASMs do not want to do. The only way they are going to be effective is to give them the authority to make the associates they supervise accountable. That means they need to have the power to coach people. I know praise gets a lot better results than criticism because you never want to kick over the beehive to get honey---but the ZMS,s have to be given the authority to be able to do their jobs and not just a taskmaster. Otherwise, what good is it creating this new position. How will this help productivity? I would love to hear your comments to this. And please don't say, I have a bad attitude, because I don't. You would kill to get an associate like me in your store. I do the work of 5 people and NEVER complain about it. In fact, people say I smile too much. I'm told "Don't look so happpy all the time, you make the rest of us look bad". So please, "my attitude" don't go there!
I'm not o sure about you negativity
but
You sure are a self-bragger
most dept mgrs in the store do all that but you do not hear them bragging all the time
That is what the ZMS job is for is to do all the grunt work (manuel labor)
so now the ASST mgrs can walk around and take care of customers and associte needs
anybody heard anything about what is to happen to the Invoice, Directs receiving and personnel jobs
yo 8/9/09 @ 9:05--NO, dept. mgrs. do not check in their own freight. The other depts get their freight taken off a truck or checked in by directs in the back. Jewelry checks in their own freight and does their own claims. So, you are wrong when you say dept mgrs. all do that. As to bragging, Yes, in this forum when someone says you should be ashamed of your bad attitude, I needed to set that person straight....because obviously they misread what I wrote. I never say anything to anyone at work about what I do or my good evals. My work ethic speaks for itself. I was only making a point in this forum in case you misread my post. Obviously you missed the whole point of the post. It wasn't to brag, it was to say that the best associates get used and abused. Has that been your experience...or are you not one of the better associates that that happens to.
Now enough of this personal criticism. It's very childish just like the person above that criticized my bad attitude. It sounds like you're a ASM. OH my, I hope you never sound that nasty to your ZMSs. That would be awful!
Now, back to real Wal-mart business. Also, I am curious about the Directs, Invoicing & Personnel position? Will those jobs go away and if so, when should this happen?
Thanks to anyone who knows.
I just want to thank everyone for coming to this "Wal-mart Blogger" and posting all the information they know....especially about all the new mgmt structure changes. Sometimes Wal-Mart can be very secretive about its' future plans because they don't want to "alarm" the associates, but it is so nice to come into this forum and get somewhat an idea as to what is going on. Anyone that contributes, I just want to say thank you. I know I really appreciate it.
I don't think this forum should be used to be critical of one another. That would not be very productive. Let's keep this a positive and a fact finding forum.
This would be of the best benefit for everyone who comes here for information. Again, thank you!
To the asst that criticizes us , we were chosen to be ZMS by our management because we are outstanding and dependable associates. Thank you
And thanks to the admin, for having this site so we can post whats going on honestly. Without fear of retailiation...lol to post anonymously
As I said earlier I would like to know more about this New task mgmt. Supposedly there is alot more to come. Scanners on post throughout the store and when you are completed with tasks assigned you scan in to get your new assignment. You are timed with your productivity individually.
Does anyone know about it...
To 08/09/2009 6:24 AM-
If that is occuring in your store I am terribly sorry. We do have the Open Door available anyhere anytime. I am very well aware of what goes on in my store and it is not so much "exploiting" but pushing standards. I will work right beside my associates anytime they ask me to. I do not mind it, actually I enjoy it. If you get the standards to where they should be you wont have to worry about being used and abused. The difficult part is getting there, maintaining is cake.
I cant deny some managers arent the best decision makers but we are all human and make mistakes at times.
My ZMS have the opportunities to hold associates accountable in any way needed. Of course management has to key in the coaching being as they dont have the option but they are the ones to give it.
What area of the US are you in? Im in Midwest and no I am not a metro store. I wish I was at times because it tends to get boring along the way.
And to let the person 4 postings up-I dont get used and abused because I do what needs to be done before I am told. Try that trick-its called "note prevention". I do my job very well and actually had an interview Friday for Shift Manager so lets not try to insinuate anything about me until you know me. I know what...insinuates.
Yes the company has changed through the years and we all still make mistakes at times. If management is that bad then you really need to correct it otherwise you will never be able to fulfill what Mr. Sam had envisioned for all of his associates.
Sorry to the person I seemed to get snippy with. I dont want to argue online. Its not as much fun. To all-be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
Gotta love Writers Almanac.
Thank you so much for the above comments. I really appreciate your thoughts. I can truly see the direction the company is going and change is what Wal-Mart is all about. The more flexible and accepting an associate is, the more successful they will be. I like the idea of "task management" because there are too many associates that waste company time by socializing and goofing off while on the clock. I think that is one of the things that urk me the most. I like this task management idea...it makes associates accountable for their time. Does anyone know how it is working and what the status is of the directs, invoicing and personnel positions are? Anyone with info., it would be greatly appreciated. Good luck on the "shift manager" position if you get it? That's like a Co-Mgr. isn't it?
Trust me lol you wouldnt want a metro store although being in a store like your would get knida boring. But talk about the rudeness of our customers OMG. They come in and trash our store and don't have any concern that it's their store of their community. Our theft has gotten soooo bad. Our loss prevention sits in the office and talks to their wives. Customers will steal right in front of you. Our store is 7 years old and it is a beautiful store. We just got an amazing store mgr about a year ago and has worked wonders so far. I think getting rid of some of the assts is going to help because they groom bad behavior. But Rome wasn't built in a day I guess. I am hoping to gain respect leadership from my associates based on my examples that I lead by. And be able to coach the others out the door if they don't want to conform to our main goal. To strive for excellence and take care of business. See I AM about the vision and beliefs of Sam Walton. But he is not here anymore and you cant always use open door if you have poor mgmt. You will be retaliated against cause they will gang up on you. I was a personnel mgr and have seen alot that was said behind closed doors.
But so far my new store mgr has a mission and I try to stay one step behind him in whatever he needs. But I feel like in in combat, lol
I know about the Metro Store experience my friend is an APC in one and she said its a never ending headache with shrink.
If your store manager came in with a purpose and has the "big picture" in mind just keep following them and give em a chance.
Now for poor management I am really sorry about that being as I have been lucky to have great mentors and a great team I am with now.
Hopefully it will get better. I know I shouldnt expect everyone elses store to be like mine. Im just one of those who looks out for my associates success before my own.
How long before we get everything by walmart truck and no more directs
anybody have any idea
and what will happen to the directs job and invoicing job
Any one know when the Invoice and direct jobs will be gone. We have an opening in our store for invoice. Should I take a chance and go for it or will I be better off going for one of the zone jobs. Help
Going with policy, does anybody know if you still need to be in a area for atleast six months before you can apply for any other positions in the store. If so, then explain this, a new associate who was prievously fired from there old job for not following management decisions has only been at our store for only 3wks and is now getting the chance to take a ZMS positoin over long term associates. And x-employes who where fired for not following policys and harrasment complaints from other associates are now starting to show back up at our store for the new key areas that are comming open.
According to what our manager told us the 6 month thing does not apply to these ZMS jobs
nor do you apply for any of the Dept. mgr. jobs where a ZMS was originally
Our manager said that she would be able to swap anyone at this time to any Dept. mgr job she wants them
In other words everything is out the window at this time
For example if you work domestics you may not keep domestics when she makes her mind up where she wants to change folks to
all rules as far as career preference on this does not apply
Also Dept. mgr will now be merchandise managers and their hours are going to change to a rotating shift
where they will also be working some on the week ends and at night
to be there whenn the customer needs
so if you did not apply for ZMS
and thouught you were going
to keep your 4-4 job
forget it
it will no longer be that way
correction for above 7-4 job m-f
will no longer be
The Store managers are taking this time to place folks where they want them
plus several dept. will be consolidating at this time
for 8/12/2009/7:11am
WoW! This sounds like some major x-cons, and some upper management needs to be replaced, same things are going on here too.
Hi I would like to leave some corrections to the following.
8/12/09 @2:35 pm I heard dept. managers will be called area managers, b/c now they have an area to cover instead of a dept.
8/04/09 @7:46pm You lie our zone manager hours did not convert into sales floor associate hours. Also you quoted wrong it; "Manage one level up, teach one level down". Meaning you need to manage a step above and teach the people below your job.
8/05/09 @7:11pm where is your store at. It sounds like it's staffed and a nice one to work at.
8/05/09 @7:21pm is KJ one of the members of your market team.
Are zone managers suppose to help or just walk around with a clipboard bossing us around. Mine doesn't seem to understand I'm one person trying to do 3 departments by myself. He stands over me while I do price changes and thinks I can work a fully loaded blue cart in 10 minutes.
I saddest thing is whe he was a Dept. manager all he did was stay in the back room and talk or lean on his freight.
I am sorry maybe you misunderstood what I was trying to say
I said the Department managers will be called Merchandise Managers now
and their hours are going to change to meet the demand of the customers
Which means no more plain old 7-4 m-f
They may be working some at night some on the weekend with rotating shifts
So if someone did not take a chance at the ZMS position because they wanted to keep their 7-4 M-F
those hours are changinging
so you may as weel have tried out for ZMS to get 2.00 exta per hour
Is it an absolute that the pay increase for ZM is a pay grade 7 plus $2 an hour?
yes, at first they said it would be a minimum start 14.00 and top out at 24.00
but, they changed their mind so now they are only going to give 2 bucks over a 7
our store was just told of some of the changes like the zms positions would open monday and interviews next week.does anyone know how they are combining depts or is it different for each store?i signed up for zms positions,just curious.
Are there any backroom supervisors out there????if so i could use some input on binning new mod in apparel....for example the fleece that is arriving now and no place on the floor for it because of all the summer left in the back and on the floor....they do not want to bin without us(department managers) changing the shelf cap because it will cause picks before the mod ever drops causing more work for the pickers...wellll....in order to change the shelf cap to 0 we would have to scan each color and each size of the product to see if it even has a shelf cap yet because no mod no labels????? does this make any kind of sense???Please help...
paletize it , put on top steel . dont bin it , just label it new mod and the dept number .its off the floor now and it wont create picks either .
I am a ZMS over softlines and if its not basic sidecounter merchandise, and just seasonal. I second that All my winter apparel is on a pallet on top op steel. You wouldn't put this in bins cause it would def have you to pick it. This merchandise actually has season codes on it and it is not to go out yet. Ask someone to show you how to read the season code, that would help you to know and understand softlines a little better.
I know about season codes duh...I would love to put it on a pallet in top steel but then you would score a no on unbeatable exc.... because everything in the backroom would not be binned...that is the problem we are having...
I wouldnt recommend just paletize and put in top of steel you would run into problems when you have U.E. I would just go through and change all the shelf caps that way it wouldnt generate a pick for that item. But then again different markets have different ways. So if your market doesnt mind you putting it up top go for it.
I'm going for front-end zs does anyone know what all the resp. are for this job I mean I know your in charge of the scorecard and procedures..... But other than that what would you do?? Schedules would still be done by the AM.
Did anyone else get a letter in the mail basicaly saying if you ever had a miss lunch or your breaks were overlooked you can complain and get money back. I tore mine up!! What was that about??
I was in the office the other day and my manager told me that were going to the zone managers by october of 2009. alot of dept managers are worried they better be because there lazy. does anyone know what is going to happen to the 4-1 Ims manager
I am an Assistant Manager for over a year now and read for the last past hour all these negative comments about Walmart and the Changes and how hard you work and how abused you are.Any change in life it is hard at the Beginning. Do I worry about my Job at times, exspecially where the new Management Structure is coming to my store Absolutly!!! But I understand why Wal-Mart needs to change. We need get back to what was important to Sam Walton...the Customer and how we can serve them better.When everyone of you applied you applied with open Availability as soon as you are through your 90 Days, you all the sudden can only work mornings or are not able to find Babysitter on the weekend. Honestly how many of you Department Manager have abused the time clock and milked it over the week just so you could have a friday off? How many of you do not show a Sense of Urgency when you get an Assignment, because you can do it at a later time? How many of you left your work undone because it was time to go home?How many of you have called out and took an extra day because you didn't feel like coming to work that day?How many of you know that on certain days you have no coverage in your area and you who made the Commitment to run a Store within a Store have not come in to help out because it was a weekend? Would you run your own Store like that? And how many of you actually took the position, because it was a cushion position for you? MO-FR 0700-1600 If you can answer any of those question with a "yes" or feel guilty ....you are the one that is part of the reason for this change.We are running a big Company and in order to stay on top we need changes, when Sam Walton started the Company it was at a different time, we were not as big as we are now, but this Company was built up on Customer Service...that was important to Sam Walton and it should be important to you....the Customer after all pays your bills and makes sure you get that bonus. I was given the oppertunity to start a new career at an age were other Companies lay you off. I have worked my way up from an O/N Associate, I have been dedicated and I am proud to be a part of this Company. I have worked hard and have there been times were I was frustrated = yes there have been...but show me the job were you don't have frustration at times.
Im so sick of everyone complaining its a job is it not,put in your 8 hours and go home,work is work its meant to be left at work not at home.Maybe everyone should go be with there familys,isnt that why we work in the first place,I know everyone is frustrated but it will get better over time,walmart is one of the highest paid jobs out there,i make over 10 bucks a hour,you cant find that anywhere right now.Im not trying to defend them but seriously think about it,If its bothering everyone quit go somewhere else,I was afraid of the change but embrace it,thats all you can do.
look up the modular relay plan for that area or ask A/M of that area When the MOD drops, should be very soon.Mark the pallet and put it on the steel
I think they need a separate bin for new mod that doesn't have to be binned and change the question on UE to is all merchandise in backroom binned except new mod....one of the questions on backroom UE is Is all the hanging apparel grouped by dept..and by brand...LOL..we have clothes hanging in the ceilings all over the store!!!!!!!!You have to find someone that can drive the lift that doesn't have 10 other things going on just to get clothes down.........does anyone else have this problem? and don't say why don't you drive the lift..because I am scared of heights!!!!!!!!!!
To the ASM posting at 9/15 7:45pm and assoc. at 9/15 7:56pm--First of all, I have been an assoc. w/Wal-mart for 17 years and I can answer truthfully NO to all your questions. Secondly, I appreciate the opportunity Wal-mart has given you, but I hope your management skills are better than your writing skills. Also, concerning the associate that thinks $10 an hour is a good wage, that is an extremely low wage if you have any type of college, technical or otherwise. I can't imagine an educated person working for that low a wage, unless their self-esteem is so low that they think that is all they are worth. A little education can go a long ways. One thing that tips off whether a person has had some kind of higher education is how well they communicate in their writing. Sentence structure, grammar, spelling and puncuation are all hints of how well a person is educated. In this day and age of community colleges, there is no reason in America to not be able to read and write properly. This will surely help with a career at Wal-mart, ASM and associate alike.
To the 17 year associate... Your great education must not have gotten your far. Your parents must be disappointed in all the money they spent. The only job you could land is Walmart. Unless you have position as DM or SM you wouldn't get paid shit like everyone else. I have been there 16 years and get paid 21.00 without and education. So stick your nose in the air and act like an idiot why don't you.
Alot of associates on here have children and spend what money we have educating our children so they will not have to do this kind of work. Did your parents work for Walmart? Cause you must be one of those spoiled children.
I'm a CO-MGR....now a shift mgr. and I make pretty good money. I was hired out of college. My parents died when I was very young and I made it on my own....so your words don't seem relevant. Good luck at Wal-Mart. Get a good education and you can even make more than $21.00 an hour. It's not too late to go back to school. Don't limit yourself. You are worth even more than that. Go for it!!!
I agree with the Co-mgr. 100%. It's best not to make excuses for working at Wal-Mart for a low wage and just get some education. There really is no excuse for it in this day and age. Don't get angry and say nasty things to people. Be proactive and make life better for yourself. It's no one's fault that you limit yourself to $10 or even $21 an hour. People who go to college make 3 times that amount, even more. Get an education at any age you can. You'll be happy you did.
To the above 16 year associate. You sound very angry and resentful that you work at Wal-Mart even though you make $21 an hour. Why would you take offense to someone suggesting a good education? I think that statement rings pretty true. Getting angry and lashing out is not the answer. Looking at yourself and asking yourself why you are getting angry at that statement is the issue. That's where your focus should be. Oh, and by the way, I also agree with the CoManager. I'm going back to school when I get the opportunity.
What everyone fails to realize is that every Wal-mart is different and the people in each store is different. I work at Wal-mart and yes, I can understand where alot of people are coming from. I work as an cashier and the AM we had over our frontend these last 6 months is the sorriest,laziest ass i have ever laid eyes on. He makes me sick just by looking at his sorry ass! When we get backed up on the registers his fat ass just look around and take his ass outside to smoke.He never schedules enough people the first of the month when we are at our busiest,we have had customers cll to complain about him when he do decide to hop on a register because he busy trying to answer his phone or get someone on his register so he can go sit his ass down.So people you have to realize that No One is PERFECT and WAL-MART SURE AS HELL AIN'T PERFECT!!!!!!! If some of you would take off your blinders cause Wal-Mart is not all that and I can tell you some shit on Management especially that you would not believe. So just because you management don't mean your shit don't stink.It is just a job, and for the ones who think this company is all that let something happen to you or someone in your family and see how fast they boot your ass out the door if take too much time off work.
To the 16 yr associate well I hope you make 21 an hour damn you've been there almost a decade and oh yeah theres people who have been at walmart a year who make more than that bc they have edu. and go straight into the program. But you are hourly so overtime lol only good thing out of that and you've been there so long you prob get paid time and half on sunday!!
excuse me almost two decades LOL
I know alot of associates who have been there just as long that still makes $12.00-$14.00 an hour. However at $21.00 for some of the stupid mgmt out there. I make more than them, with all the overtime I get. I don't have to work 3rd shift and up till now I have worked my 7-4 and went home. I was a personnel mgr and have I heard all the stories on mgmt. lol
So many of you get out of college and are dumber than a box of rocks. I have passed up the opportunity to go into upper mgmt several times. Why would I want to sell my soul if I didn't have to? I wish I had a dime for every young college student that I trained. ( How many dept. mgrs have trained their assistants mgrs)
Don't get me wrong, education is very important. It just doesn't make you better than everyone else.
See together my husband and I make $160,000. a year sooo I'm not too stupid. I'm just laughing at you.
Show me a person with a deep loathing of all mankind and I'll show you a person that works in retail!!!!!
Yes, this comes from and 18 year asociate that makes over $19 an
hour, with an education. Every store is different, it starts at the store manager...if he's a piece of ---- then i=his store suffers for it. Sam would turn over in his grave if he could see my store and how it's run.
Yes, I believe in the company by Sam's old beliefs. But the boss can ruin it from the top to the bottom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the associate asking about the apparel mod. I am the supervisor for 2nd shift instock and as we've been told, and I'm sure all stores are different... we can palletize and put New Mod freight on to the steel as long as it has a slot tag with the New Mod week on the front. It does not have to be binned. Originally, some months ago, we were supposed to have a section of steel turn into what I do believe they called a triage?? And it was/is supposed to be an area that holds all New Mod, Clearance and Deleted items...I am not too sure where that whole idea went to cause it has never happened in our store, but we do put our new mod up in the steel as close as possible to the department it belongs with without having to bin it.
The big buzz around our store right now...well, actually it isnt' a very big buzz yet...lol. I've heard wind of it cause I have some ASM's that have clued me in cause they know I want to move up the ladder, that the ZMS will be hittin' our store in October... whether that means it will all be final by then or if it is going to be just startin', I don't know. I think it would be crazy to try and have such "mass movement" going on RIGHT before Christmas... but it won't stop me from gettin' in on the movement.... I am 2nd shift instock supervisor with a years experience in the backroom and 6 years experience as a CSS. I would like to try for the front end ZS but I really want to get into the AM program. We are trying to figure out in what order they are going to do everything in our market. Are they going to promote the CO's first and than move on to the assistants? Having them bid on their positions??? And last but not least, the ZMS positions.... I'll tell you what.... this is going to be giving a heck of a lot of people great opportunities... they call the change "mass movement" and they ain't a kiddin'... it's going to open up a lot of positions for a lot of people. Good luck to anyone out there that is planning a move up... I get sooooooooooooo frustrated with Walmart... or maybe it isn't Walmart...maybe it's just the management team... I haven't figured it all out and I'm tired of trying to figure it all out. All I know is that I have a family to help support along with my husband, and it is almost IMPERATIVE that I move up the ladder to survive these hard economic times... I make the best of my job... and I smile and I laugh and I sing to my crew when we are unloading the truck...just to help keep morale up and keep my crew strong.... but then when I come home... my poor husband, he gets to hear it all. lol. I do love my job and I do love the people I work with....sometimes I just get so burnt out for bustin' my hump, coming home feeling' like I'm 90 and not gettin' the recognition for your accomplishments in a store that is so short on staff.... all we ask is to recognize your dedicated associates.... a heartfelt thank you would be GOLDEN!!!!!!
What a great read on the ever changing face of Wal-Mart Structure. Lots of info, our store has been in change now for two months. I am a 8 year assc. and my husband a 4 year assc. TMAT "task manager" is very interesting. Zone Manager print daily sheets with designation where the assc is suppose to be. Job codes are going to be re-adjusted to fit the area "pod" your in. They are going to down size the number of jobs codes to around 150 currently, my understanding is that there around 450. You will not have 1 area but the whole pod. I myself love this idea, never get bored in 1 area. The downside, the transition to get to know the various areas, not to mention the attitudes of posessive dept manager or assc. Various areas have long term assc who rarely step out of their areas to help other areas who are in the weeds, either due to lack of staffing or seasonal demands. Focus more on team-work and customer service, which is a strenth for ANY retail, not just Wal-Mart. Accountability, is the buzz word, and compliance. Documentation thru the above system is part of the big picture. Best of luck to all.
I am a dept mgr in shoes. Our dept mgr in jewelry and I both applied for the ZMS positions. Neither one of us got the position. In older posts here it was stated that there will be one dept mgr for these two dept. Does any one have any idea how they are going to handle this situation with two dept mgrs still in their positions. Also what will happen to the sales coordinator and receiving coordinator postions? If any one has any information I wouild appreciate it..
There will not be anymore dept mgrs. The new position will be ZM-Zone Merchandiser. All dept mgrs will have to reapply for these new positions. But Jewelry and shoes will combine. And then Shoes Jewelry and all apparel will be called a POD. Everyone will work as a team not so much individually.
That doesn't sound like what our Manager so far has told us. He said departments will be combining and dept. manager's hours will be looked at in about 12-18 months to see if they will be changing.
Does anyone know what happens in the TLE area with this new structure?
Just want to thank you all for all this info. Our store is just getting ready to start all this in about a month or so.
What is the matter with you people
at least you have a job hey if you dont want it someone else will be glad to work your weekends while you are standing on the unemployment line or the WELFARE LINE maybe thats what some of you people here need to make you relize you are lucky enough to even have a job. Walmart Manager
To the manger who posted about people complaining, you are the main ones we complain about!Half the people yall hire quit cause they see the shit they have to deal with and yea we lucky to have a jobbut, you wouldn't have a job if it weren't for the associates in your store.Don't get it twisted and think you do it all by yourself.Go up to the front sometime and work the register,or customer service and deal with the nuts,drug addicts,and old crouchy people who have nothing better to do but come harrass your employees, who yall don't defend or take up for and let the customers curse out. I bet if a customer was to hit one of your employees, you wouldn't do shit but try and blame the employee and turn around and give that same customer a damn gift card for their inconvience.Get it through you head Wal-mart is a job,we don't have to love it.And it's not luck that we have a job,we have a job cause we want a job,but it is not by all means an end to all ends.I just work there, i could give a fuck about the company. Is the company gonna help me get into Heaven?????????????
I am a 2 year associate. Within 4 months I applied and became a Department Manager. I have worked in the Connection Center and in Photo. I have applied for the Zone Manager job as well. As a newer store we are all pretty green from the cart pusher to the Store manager. We have a Store Manager who does their best to balance the needs of Walmart with the people who work there. We all work hard and learn from each other. Yes we are short handed, yes we could use more training but we are growing our business because we work hard and treat our customers well. What I see in Walmart is a business like any other. They have budgets, hiring issues, and policies you may not like. I never worked retail before this job and I have learned you have to change pretty fast in order to keep your customers happy and your sales high. Is it a pain, yes at times it is. I am being paid to do a job and since I have a decent work ethic and pride in what I do, I work hard for my store, and the associates and customers who deserve my best.
Dito to the 2 year associate. I have been at my store for 19 and am very proud of all I and the rest of the store do. We are the 2 store in the comapany and busy isn't a big enough word for our day. I love what I do and change happens everday so we just move on down the road. I have met Mr.Sam and he'd be proud of all we do do.
Is anyone a 3rd shift supervsior that has been moved to the new hours - just wondering how this is working - we were just informed about the need to change our hours to 6pm to 3am ... I think the hours will really stink. I am tempted to take the demotion and start looking for something else.
the day is coming, when wal mart will be the answer on a trivia question....the late great walmart...sam would be so ashamed.
To the anonymous ast with 20 questions. I never did any of those things you mentioned. I never milked the timeclock, I never left early on friday's. I have been above standard on evals from wal-mart for almost 20yrs. It looks like you were not with the company 20 yrs ago when it was "fun" to come to work. Now it is just a chore that you always feel "big brother is watching" even though I am one who never did any of those assumed things you wrote. Now I have to pay with a lifestyle change which will make it hard to coach little league sports as I have for 5 yrs. This is my life that I gave 100% 7-4 and now it is uprooted? Why? Because the ast. managers and managers never dealt with the abusers you mentioned in your 20 questions. Now the company knows they have us by the "balls" and they can force any schedule on us because we can't go anywhere else for $20 an hour.
Yea these managers want to make comments about our 7-4 schedule and not working weekends. However it was the company that wanted us to work 6-3's or 7-4's. This was the companys structure at the time. So my life with my children was molded around Walmart. And now I rarely get to go to school functions. And never see my husband much and it is putting a strain on our relationship. See when you have worked twenty years working the same schedule , it becomes a habit. Now I have to look at a schedule everyday, not knowing what I work from one day to the next.
Don't get me wrong... I still love my job. The changes are difficult for me to get used to.
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