Thursday, April 4, 2013

Walmart Employee Cuts Leave Shelves Bare


Clifford, S. (2013, April 3). Walmart Strains to Keep Grocery Aisles Stocked. The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/business/walmart-strains-to-keep-grocery-aisles-stocked.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130404&_r=0

[Excerpted] Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer and grocer, has cut so many employees that it no longer has enough workers to stock its shelves properly, according to some employees and industry analysts....

Before the recession, at the start of 2007, Walmart had an average of 338 employees per store at its United States stores and Sam’s Club locations. Now, it has 281 per store, having cut the number of United States employees while adding hundreds of stores. 

Majia here: Walmart cut employees during and after the recession because its customers are spending less.

Walmart's own report from the 3rd quarter in 2012 concludes: "Our internal spending analyses confirm that households’ discretionary spending has yet to return to pre-downturn levels.  A prolonged improvement in confidence is unlikely until income for disposable purchases improves considerably." http://news.walmart.com/walmart-facts/walmart-economic-customer-insights-report-q3-2012

I doubt Walmart expects the economy to recover soon, which is why they've not hired back more workers.

Today the Wall Street Journal reported "the economy is adding jobs more slowly to start 2013 than it did early in 2012" in Casselman B. (2013, April 4) 'Job Market Remains a Wild Card in Recovery Picture' p. A4.

Majia here: There can be recovery when the majority of households in America - that is, at least the bottom 80% - continue to reel from contraction of income due to the inability to find full-time work with benefits.

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