Why does Wal-Mart pay their employees so little?

Question

I used to work there, and my paycheck was basically a joke! Wal-Mart is like the biggest company in the world....surely they can afford to pay their employees more! My friends that worked there that lived on their own were struggling so badly with kids, bills, rent, etc. and Wal-Mart doesn't give a sh-t its so unfair!!!! Why do they do this and why don't more people boycott Wal-Mart, or at least stop applying there until they raise their prices? Even though I shop there, I still think the quality of their merchandise is low....what can be done about this?

Answer 1

Nothing.

It's unskilled labor that does not warrant a higher wage. It's not meant to be lived off or raise kids on. When you lack skills and experience, minimum wage jobs are exactly what Wal-Mart is. They do not have any obligation to pay you more and if they did, that cost would go directly to the consumer and you'd be right back where you started.

It's called Economics. Please learn it.

Answer 2

Walmart gets away with paying so little because they can. All they have to do is follow the government 's new law of minimum wage and other employment rules. Other wise, they pretty much could care less about their employees. There only concern is keeping prices low and opening more stores all over the U.S. and abroad.
You could get together with other people who feel the same in you community and go public with your grievances. The more people speak up in groups to the press, maybe a change might come about.

Answer 3

I made $7.25 when I started there and in under a year I finagled 2 more dollars out of them. They were paying me $9.20. That is a LOT better than comparable jobs. Fast food places pay minimum wage or no more than $6.00. Grocery stores pay a little bett depending on what you do, but it isn't THAT much better. It's Wal-Mart. You're scanning merchandise. You think they're gonna give you a $50,000 salary to do that? You would have to be management to get that. I agree, I don't understand why the minimum wage isn't at least $10, because no one can REALLY live off of less than that. I hate it that billion dollar companies pay so little, but until the government recognizes that we need higher minimum wage, we can't blame the companies for being so cheap.

Answer 4

Wal*Mart's wages are competitive with most retailers including department stores. Check it out. Costco and home improvement centers like Home Depot are exceptions but they get the cream of the crop.

Retailing is not a good career option. Vegetable pickers make more. Learn a skill.

Answer 5

As I understand it, Wal-Mart's wages are quite competitive with other retail chains (I've had several friends who worked there). A company doesn't get profitable by overpaying their employees. If people are struggling with bills and whatever, its not the employer's fault. Those people need to get out and look for a higher paying job. Its Wal-Mart's responsibility to pay them, not provide for them. It is the employee's responsibility to provide for his or herself, and if Wal-Mart does not pay enough for that then the employee needs to look elsewhere to fulfill his or her needs.

Answer 6

There are a lot of companies that pay a lot worse! The Walmart in my area's starting wage is higher than 80% of other starting wage jobs! Don't be so judgemental. Some of us NEED a walmart around so we can buy inexpensive items

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and if you're so concerned about it why are you shopping there? (I'm genuinly curious)

Answer 7

So they can keep the prices of their products low.

Answer 8

because the prices are sooo low.