Organizational Culture at Wal-Mart
Explain how viable employee relations’ practices have contributed to Wal-Mart’s success as an employer
When you think of the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart is usually the first name that comes to mind in its industry. With over 2 million employees, one must ask them-selves, why is Wal-Mart so successful and popular among employees? As a corporation, Wal-Mart focuses closely on its corporate culture and behaviors throughout the organization; paying close attention to satisfying both its customers and its employees. The company engages its employees to be happy to serve its customers, which is the reason they are employed. In an article titled, A culture of corporate at Wal-Mart, the author interviews a Wal-Mart management employee and writes, [“I think they’re very excited about us being here,” Copeland said, in reference to her staffers. “Just having to adjust [to the fact] that this is kind of like, corporate. That’s what we are. It’s not a typical ‘oh, I’m just coming to work.’ … It’s not just being a cashier forever. Once they learned the benefits, the culture, it all started at the hiring center, it all started with the interviews. The expectations and what we wanted. They just carried that on from there. It’s like a fever everybody’s caught. This is just what it is. This is how our stores operate.”] (Yates, C.). Wal-Mart’s motto when it comes to employees is “our people make a difference” (Walmart). The company believes that its employees are the heart of its business and build an environment that is based upon integrity, respect, open-communication, and innovation. In fact, Wal-Mart has created four beliefs that it stands by to meet its purpose. Those beliefs are, “service to our customers, respect for the individual, strive for excellence, and act with integrity” (Walmart). Associates and corporate employees are reminded of those beliefs and strive to act on them every day. Even with bad publicity and criticism, Wal-Mart is still
When you think of the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart is usually the first name that comes to mind in its industry. With over 2 million employees, one must ask them-selves, why is Wal-Mart so successful and popular among employees? As a corporation, Wal-Mart focuses closely on its corporate culture and behaviors throughout the organization; paying close attention to satisfying both its customers and its employees. The company engages its employees to be happy to serve its customers, which is the reason they are employed. In an article titled, A culture of corporate at Wal-Mart, the author interviews a Wal-Mart management employee and writes, [“I think they’re very excited about us being here,” Copeland said, in reference to her staffers. “Just having to adjust [to the fact] that this is kind of like, corporate. That’s what we are. It’s not a typical ‘oh, I’m just coming to work.’ … It’s not just being a cashier forever. Once they learned the benefits, the culture, it all started at the hiring center, it all started with the interviews. The expectations and what we wanted. They just carried that on from there. It’s like a fever everybody’s caught. This is just what it is. This is how our stores operate.”] (Yates, C.). Wal-Mart’s motto when it comes to employees is “our people make a difference” (Walmart). The company believes that its employees are the heart of its business and build an environment that is based upon integrity, respect, open-communication, and innovation. In fact, Wal-Mart has created four beliefs that it stands by to meet its purpose. Those beliefs are, “service to our customers, respect for the individual, strive for excellence, and act with integrity” (Walmart). Associates and corporate employees are reminded of those beliefs and strive to act on them every day. Even with bad publicity and criticism, Wal-Mart is still
Citations: Walmart Corporate - Working at Walmart. (n.d.). Walmart Corporate - Working at Walmart. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/working-at-walmart/ Yates, C. (2013, December 4). A culture of corporate at Wal-Mart. Washington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2013/12/04/a-culture-of-corporate-at-wal-mart/?tid=pm_local_pop Working At Walmart. (n.d.). Walmart Careers. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from http://careers.walmart.com/about-us/working-at-walmart/#benefits-accordion Vranjes, T. (2013, February 9). Walmart Promises Bold Moves to Boost Employment « Revive My Career. Revive My Career Walmart Promises Bold Moves to Boost Employment Comments. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from http://www.revivemycareer.com/2013/02/19/walmart-promises-bold-moves-to-boost-employment/ DePillis, L. (2011, May 19). Walmart: We Aren’t Unionized Because Workers Don’t Want Unions. Housing Complex RSS. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/05/19/walmart-we-arent-unionized-because-workers-dont-want-unions/ What is unionization? definition and meaning. (n.d.). BusinessDictionary.com. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/unionization.html