Organizational Culture at Wal-Mart

Discuss how practical employee relations' practices have added to Wal-Mart's success as an employer

When you think of the world's biggest seller, Wal-Mart is generally the very first name that enters your mind in its industry. With over 2 million staff members, one must ask them-selves, why is Wal-Mart so effective and popular amongst employees? As a corporation, Wal-Mart focuses closely on its corporate culture and habits throughout the company; paying attention to satisfying both its clients and its workers. The business engages its workers to be delighted to serve its customers, which is the factor they are employed.

In an article entitled, A culture of corporate at Wal-Mart, the author interviews a Wal-Mart management staff member and writes, [" I believe they're very thrilled about us being here," Copeland said, in recommendation to her staffers. "Just needing to adjust [to the reality] that this is kind of like, business.

That's what we are. It's not a normal 'oh, I'm just concerning work.

Get quality help now
Dr. Karlyna PhD
Dr. Karlyna PhD
checked Verified writer

Proficient in: Business

star star star star 4.7 (235)

“ Amazing writer! I am really satisfied with her work. An excellent price as well. ”

avatar avatar avatar
+84 relevant experts are online
Hire writer

' ... It's not simply being a cashier forever. Once they found out the advantages, the culture, everything started at the hiring center, all of it began with the interviews. The expectations and what we desired. They just brought that on from there. It resembles a fever everybody's caught. This is simply what it is. This is how our shops run."] (Yates, C.). Wal-Mart's motto when it concerns employees is "our individuals make a distinction" (Walmart). The company believes that its workers are the heart of its service and build an environment that is based upon stability, regard, open-communication, and innovation.

Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper
Topic
Number of pages
Email Invalid email

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

"You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy"
Write my paper

You won’t be charged yet!

In reality, Wal-Mart has produced four beliefs that it waits to satisfy its purpose. Those beliefs are, "service to our clients, regard for the individual, pursue excellence, and show 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 making plans to move forward to improve its employment practices and boost employment in the nation. In 2013, the company announced it would have plans to hire at least one hundred thousand veterans, purchase $50 billion dollars in American made products to help create various new jobs, and promote part-time workers to full-time. These types of employee relations’ practices help to relieve some of the bad criticism Wal-Mart has received and contribute to retention among its employees in the corporation.

Determine how the benefits may contribute to the success of Wal-Mart’s employment practice

In today’s world, having great benefits are a deal breaker for many employees when choosing a company to work for. With the high cost of individual healthcare, workers want to ensure they are receiving the best benefits amongst competitors in their prospective industries. Wal-Mart focuses on offering affordable benefits to its employees that include health benefits such as health, dental, and vision with four dollar co-pays for generic medicines, financial benefits such retirement plans, employee stock purchase, employee discounts at Wal-Mart stores and subsidiaries, and discounts wireless services. The company offers great benefits that for sure contribute to best employment practices and the retention employees. These employee benefits are also contributing factors of why there aren’t many unions within the corporation; because many employees are satisfied.

Describe how the organizational culture and the use of performance criteria could affect the introduction of a union

Unionization is described as “the process of organizing the employees of a company into a labor union which will act as an intermediary between the employees and company management” (BusinessDictionary). In most cases, when management does not effectively communicate with employees on issues and concerns within the company, employees seek to form a union to act as the liaison on issues they would like resolved. Wal-Mart as a company is highly concerned about addressing issues with its employees.

In fact, the company has created a open door policy that states [“We believe open communication is critical to understanding our associates’ and our customers’ needs. Associates can trust and rely on our open door policy. You are encouraged to raise your questions, concerns and ideas to your management team. This is how we get better.”] (Walmart). Wal-Mart is very much aware of criticized issues and continues to use the employee relation’s process to come up with best practice solutions to rectify these issues for a more satisfied employee.

Discuss why you believe Wal-Mart has not been effectively unionized over the years I believe that unionization has not been effective over the years because of the open door policy that Wal-Mart creates with its employees. Employees may realize the pros and cons of a union and either back out or I believe once Wal-Mart realizes employees feel their concerns are not being handled effectively, as organization they quickly organize a plan of action. In an article titled, Walmart: We Aren’t Unionized Because Workers Don’t Want Unions, the Director of Communications Steve Restivo states, “We have a clear and open line of communication with our associates. Our associates recognize that they appreciate that, and they know that the wages and benefits they receive are extremely competitive in the industry.” (DePillis, L.).

 References and 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?

Updated: Jul 06, 2022
Cite this page

Organizational Culture at Wal-Mart. (2016, Jun 13). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/organizational-culture-at-wal-mart-essay

Organizational Culture at Wal-Mart essay
Live chat  with support 24/7

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

get help with your assignment