The Briefing Room

General Category => Economy/Business => Topic started by: jmyrlefuller on February 28, 2019, 03:16:21 am

Title: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: jmyrlefuller on February 28, 2019, 03:16:21 am
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/nation-world/walmart-is-getting-rid-of-greeters-worrying-the-disabled/507-9f4baef0-2117-4262-81af-62a6204c1707 (https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/nation-world/walmart-is-getting-rid-of-greeters-worrying-the-disabled/507-9f4baef0-2117-4262-81af-62a6204c1707)

Walmart told greeters around the country last week that their positions would be eliminated on April 26 in favor of an expanded, more physically demanding "customer host" role. To qualify, they will need to be able to lift 25-pound (11-kilogram) packages, climb ladders and stand for long periods.

(excerpt)
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Bill Cipher on February 28, 2019, 03:27:50 am
Too bad.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: InHeavenThereIsNoBeer on February 28, 2019, 03:32:13 am
I hope they keep the people who (want to) check my receipt after I walk the eight feet from the register to the door.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Elderberry on February 28, 2019, 03:43:32 am
My wife has been a door greeter for about 15 years now. But at Sam's. And an exit door greeter. And they won't admit it, but its really a loss prevention function. Though she has a good repore with the customers. She started out as a cake decorator, but a couple years later a full box of icing fell off of a top shelf onto her hand and damaged her wrist.  She couldn't find a lawyer to represent her, so she did battle herself against Walmart's team of Arkansas lawyers and at least got guaranteed light duty employment. Thieves check to see if she's at the door. They know better. But now she's deserted the door. Two weeks ago they moved her up to marketing.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Elderberry on February 28, 2019, 03:47:21 am
I hope they keep the people who (want to) check my receipt after I walk the eight feet from the register to the door.

I walked past the receipt checker at Best Buy with the receipt in my hand. He followed me out the door, across the sidewalk, and into the parking lot. I then saw a look of horror in his face as he realized that he had just deserted his post and he ran back into the store.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: InHeavenThereIsNoBeer on February 28, 2019, 04:00:02 am
I walked past the receipt checker at Best Buy with the receipt in my hand. He followed me out the door, across the sidewalk, and into the parking lot. I then saw a look of horror in his face as he realized that he had just deserted his post and he ran back into the store.

Maybe it was your "Keep honking while I'm reloading" bumper sticker?
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Elderberry on February 28, 2019, 04:25:44 am
Maybe it was your "Keep honking while I'm reloading" bumper sticker?

That and my WWBD sticker.

(https://images.ontheedgebrands.com/images/A36-SJ80559.jpg)
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Cyber Liberty on February 28, 2019, 04:31:27 am
I hope they keep the people who (want to) check my receipt after I walk the eight feet from the register to the door.

There will always be "Inventory Associates."  Orwell is having a field day at the Walmartian HR department.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: verga on February 28, 2019, 07:52:49 pm
Well there goes my retirement plan.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Elderberry on March 01, 2019, 11:56:34 pm
After 'botch,' Walmart moves to keep disabled greeters

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/medical/article/Walmart-to-make-every-effort-to-keep-disabled-13654914.php (https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/medical/article/Walmart-to-make-every-effort-to-keep-disabled-13654914.php)

Quote
Walmart endured more than a week's worth of bad publicity before announcing publicly that it was making "every effort" to find a role for disabled workers who had been threatened with job loss as the retailer gets rid of greeters at 1,000 stores.

Amid a fierce backlash, Greg Foran, president and CEO of Walmart's U.S. stores, said in a memo to store managers Thursday night that "we are taking some specific steps to support" greeters with disabilities. The chain noted that several greeters were offered new jobs at their respective stores and accepted.

Advocates for the disabled said Walmart is making the right move.

"By rethinking their action, Walmart is now opening the door to actually help individuals realize their full employment potential," said Cheryl Bates-Harris, senior disability advocacy specialist at the National Disability Rights Network.

Walmart told greeters around the country last week that their positions were being eliminated in late April in favor of an expanded "customer host" role that involves not only welcoming customers, but also helping with returns, checking receipts to help prevent shoplifting and keeping the front of the store clean. The position requires hosts to be able to lift heavy weights, climb ladders and do other tasks.

More at link
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 02, 2019, 01:14:13 am
After 'botch,' Walmart moves to keep disabled greeters

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/medical/article/Walmart-to-make-every-effort-to-keep-disabled-13654914.php (https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/medical/article/Walmart-to-make-every-effort-to-keep-disabled-13654914.php)

I could see this bit of blowback coming from a mile away.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Weird Tolkienish Figure on March 02, 2019, 01:32:22 am
I could see this bit of blowback coming from a mile away.

Greeters are of the few things I liked about Walmart.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 02, 2019, 01:50:35 am
Greeters are of the few things I liked about Walmart.

Me too.  Obviously the "Green Eye Shade" Guys are running the place.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: GtHawk on March 02, 2019, 03:09:30 am
I hope they keep the people who (want to) check my receipt after I walk the eight feet from the register to the door.
I just tell them have a nice day as I walk by, one time the little guy got irate with me and said if I didn't show him my receipt he would call the police. I told him him do what you have to do I'm leaving. In fairness that was the only time that happened, usually they just look really confused because it's not part of their Walmart script.

 I do think it's sad for the disabled people and elderly that held those greeter jobs, it gave them some extra money but more importantly a feeling of worth.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: truth_seeker on March 02, 2019, 04:19:49 am
Seems like communication foul ups.

When I heard the initial announcement over the radio, it stated the disable folks would be reassigned, not terminated.

It is worth remembering the media, "journalism," will at every opportunity try to make a newsworthy story, if they have to lie to do it.


Congress and the media rank at the bottom, period. Recent poll posted here.


Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: DCPatriot on March 02, 2019, 04:21:27 am
Seems like communication foul ups.

When I heard the initial announcement over the radio, it stated the disable folks would be reassigned, not terminated.

It is worth remembering the media, "journalism," will at every opportunity try to make a newsworthy story, if they have to lie to do it.


Congress and the media rank at the bottom, period. Recent poll posted here.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, @truth_seeker    :patriot:
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: truth_seeker on March 02, 2019, 04:53:36 am
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, @truth_seeker    :patriot:

It should be common sense to be highly skeptical about the veracity of "news" stories these days.

As Lady Gaga said a couple of days ago "Social Media is the Toilet of the Internet," and sites that post such stories are mainly aimed at drama and controversy.

Insults. Name calling. Ad infinitum.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 02, 2019, 03:37:48 pm
It should be common sense to be highly skeptical about the veracity of "news" stories these days.

As Lady Gaga said a couple of days ago "Social Media is the Toilet of the Internet," and sites that post such stories are mainly aimed at drama and controversy.

Insults. Name calling. Ad infinitum.

So are they eliminating greeters or not? 
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Elderberry on March 02, 2019, 03:47:17 pm
So are they eliminating greeters or not?

They are replacing greeters with "Customer Hosts".

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/01/699303419/walmart-chief-responds-to-furor-over-treatment-of-greeters-with-disabilities (https://www.npr.org/2019/03/01/699303419/walmart-chief-responds-to-furor-over-treatment-of-greeters-with-disabilities)
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 02, 2019, 04:28:05 pm
They are replacing greeters with "Customer Hosts".

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/01/699303419/walmart-chief-responds-to-furor-over-treatment-of-greeters-with-disabilities (https://www.npr.org/2019/03/01/699303419/walmart-chief-responds-to-furor-over-treatment-of-greeters-with-disabilities)

Mrs. Liberty would be cool with that.  Sometimes she buys heavy items (like a bucket of cat litter) and needs help putting them in her cart, and then into the car, if I'm not with her.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Elderberry on March 02, 2019, 04:40:06 pm
Mrs. Liberty would be cool with that.  Sometimes she buys heavy items (like a bucket of cat litter) and needs help putting them in her cart, and then into the car, if I'm not with her.

I know at Sam's it's not the door greeters that do that. Any Sam's employee will help loading items in a cart. Upon exiting the door greeter, if needed, will get a shopping cart employee to help with getting the cart to the car and loading the items into the car.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 02, 2019, 04:45:51 pm
I know at Sam's it's not the door greeters that do that. Any Sam's employee will help loading items in a cart. Upon exiting the door greeter, if needed, will get a shopping cart employee to help with getting the cart to the car and loading the items into the car.

Walmart is flawed that way:  Once you clear the greeter, it's difficult to find another Associate for assistance.  That's why Mrs. Liberty orders a lot of stuff from Walmart online and has it delivered up to the Castle.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: GtHawk on March 02, 2019, 09:09:52 pm
They are replacing greeters with "Customer Hosts".

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/01/699303419/walmart-chief-responds-to-furor-over-treatment-of-greeters-with-disabilities (https://www.npr.org/2019/03/01/699303419/walmart-chief-responds-to-furor-over-treatment-of-greeters-with-disabilities)
Excuse me, but isn't that already the job of the employees wandering about the sales floor? There has always been someone that could be called to do that, this is just more damage control for a poorly thought out cost cutting plan which backfired hugely with their customer base that saw it as greedy and hurtful to their disabled and elderly employees.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: catfish1957 on March 02, 2019, 09:16:49 pm
Excuse me, but isn't that already the job of the employees wandering about the sales floor? There has always been someone that could be called to do that, this is just more damage control for a poorly thought out cost cutting plan which backfired hugely with their customer base that saw it as greedy and hurtful to their disabled and elderly employees.

My wife was mgr. with them going back to about 1980.  She told me that the "greeter" was a Sam Walton idea that held the theory that a smiling happy face welcoming you to the store, would go a long way in good will, and ultimately in sales.

Here's another amazing fact about Sam Walton ....   she told me that when she joined she was one of about 800 or so. assistant store managers.  Sam knew everyone  by name, and in 90% of the time knew where you were from.

The Walmart of today is a sad comparison to what it was then.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: catfish1957 on March 02, 2019, 09:18:33 pm
Walmart is flawed that way:  Once you clear the greeter, it's difficult to find another Associate for assistance.  T

Find one?  Hell if you do, they now run from you.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 02, 2019, 09:25:16 pm
Excuse me, but isn't that already the job of the employees wandering about the sales floor? There has always been someone that could be called to do that, this is just more damage control for a poorly thought out cost cutting plan which backfired hugely with their customer base that saw it as greedy and hurtful to their disabled and elderly employees.

Have you been to a Walmart lately?  Very few Associates walking the floor, and even fewer cashiers.  This violates one of Sam's most important tenets:  Never more than 3 people in a checkout lane.  Mrs. Liberty has hardly ever been able to find an Associate to help her lift heavy merchandise or reach items on a top shelf.
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 02, 2019, 09:26:26 pm
Find one?  Hell if you do, they now run from you.

They do...in stark contrast to Home Depot.  At HD, they chase you. :laugh:
Title: Re: Walmart is getting rid of greeters
Post by: Fishrrman on March 03, 2019, 02:14:21 am
The local Walmart (which I just visited today) hasn't had regular "greeters" for quite some time. However, they have a "checker" to keep an eye on what's going OUT OF the store. That person may ask to see your sales receipt and match it against what you've got.

They almost never bother me for some reason.

I've also come to use the "self-checkout" stations all the time now. I've caught cashiers making mistakes before. I'll make my own mistakes, thank you very much (and boy, do I make 'em!).