Maybe you shouldn't. But based on the information at hand, you're still making an assumption, which is what you said you weren't doing.

Or maybe you should ask yourself if Wal-Mart is really as evil as you make it out to be, especially when people on this board who have worked there have disagreed repeatedly with the idea that Wal-Mart is a terrible place for employees.

I'm actually an AVID tutor for a middle school in Florida, so I'm very familiar with the program and how it works. Yes, it does help kids who don't have all the advantages that other kids have and it gives them a chance that they made not have had otherwise. But AVID isn't implemented in every school and its only 20 years old. What about all the folks who never got to experience a program such as AVID, or may never get to due to their geographic location?

For every person on here who said they were treated well, I'm sure you can find another who was treated like crap.

If Enron started up again, would you trust their accounting practices? I'm sorry, but a company that has done as many shitty things as Walmart has doesn't get a pass because 2 or 3 people on a message board (for college educated people, mind you) said their experience was hunky dory.

But unlike Enron there's not an indictment of management. All you have are two different sides of anecdotal evidence.

Exactly, which in my experience usually means that the truth is somewhere in between.

Look, I don't care if you hate Wal-Mart with every fiber of your being. Like I said, I hate Wal-Mart, too, although for different reasons. All I'm saying is that it's possible -- possible -- that this is a good business move that just might work out okay for employees.

AVID is only one choice that is available. It's certainly not that novel a concept. It may be a tried and true way for a kid to get his or her life back on track, but kids were and are able to do this without an organized program.

Even so, just about everyplace has charter schools now which offer these kinds of programs, and if they're anything like the charter schools in OKC are, people are not exactly beating down the doors to get in.

In fact, my wife's school, as great as they do, does not even have a full enrollment. Not even close. It would seem that kids would rather stay in the failed inter city schools which have NCLB scores which total up to a full third of what my wife's school scores. It's their choice though.

For what it's worth, I'd give back my GWB tax cuts to see AVID implemented in every school in the country. It's really a terrific program. Education isn't the only solution to poverty, but it's definitely the best.

Otherwise you'd be disabled!

Oh come on, there wasn't even a point to that.

Apparently you are too. Run along to Kroger now.

It's ok, GP...I got the joke. Funny, haha.:) :)

First off, the article notes that 'some' employees 'may' be subject to an on-call arrangement, so we're really, really stretching to assume this will be the case for even most employees, or even a significant number of shifts.

Second, almost every other store in the advanced world, including most grocery stores, already uses a similar process - having a 'guaranteed', strict 40 hours per week is TERRIBLE for business purposes. Unskilled labor often requires you to work hours suited to people shopping after work, over lunch or stocking before the business day - getting pissed about this seems odd.

Now, to argue with the above points, you're really digging for a reason to be pissed - this type of flexible child-care arrangement is not only eminently possible, but if it doesn't exist already it will probably spring up to meet the needs if there is demand . . . you know, market and all that. Wal-Mart is not holding anybody hostage, as far as I know, and if a profitable decision for the company is ruinous for employees, the employees have a right to strike, to seek other employment, etc etc etc.

These things do NOT require money, nor education, nor anything related.

It is QUITE a stretch to claim that being scheduled two days, two evenings and one 'flex' period on Friday makes it 'impossible' to find child care or to adequately budget.

Will it require the employees to change their current lives? Quite possibly - but again, there are other no-collar options, and demand will always create supply for the subsidiary elements you've focused on (even if I consider them somewhat superfluous) if these changes are dire or even drastic, and adapting to these will make the company more profitable, which benefits shareholders, creates jobs and all of that good stuff. Is it a 'poor tax'? Possibly, but again, we can all stop shopping there and stop the whole thing. See how circular this becomes?

Finally, and I hate to break it to this level, but what on Earth don't you understand about the fact that a.) a company is responsible (to shareholders and employees alike) for turning a profit and b.) its employees are out much more than a few hours a week if the company does not turn a profit?

Wal-Mart is profit-oriented? Do you own mutual funds or a 401(k)? I mean, come on . . .

Times are tuff, just be glad to have a friggen job. Oh, getting some money to live on and put bread and milk on the table.

Try owning a small business in this economy!

Got my quartly hair cut and look good!:p

If it hasn't happened to you, you know nothing about it. Period.

Those damn six year olds who don't investigate the quality of their area schools and transfer to the one that will provide the best opportunity for success later in life!

Once they're 16, they can do what they want to in that regard. If their parents decide to hold them back, they can always go and become emancipated. I think denial of educational opportunity would be strong grounds for that.

And even after high school, there are community G.E.D. programs, there is financial aid to get into college or trade school.

My point is that unless someone just completely pisses their life away, there are options. Those options may not be as easy and accessible as those which were available to me and probably you, but those things are out there.