Is it still Mr. Sam's company?
June 9, 2010 7:04 PM Subscribe
What's it like to work at Walmart corporate?
I'm not asking about life at Walmart retail stores, which has been discussed previously. Instead, I'm interested in learning more about Walmart corporate culture at the mothership in Bentonville, Arkansas.
I've seen some articles about Walmart's relationship with its suppliers, and there's lots about corporate interaction (or conflict) with local communities, but what's it like on the inside working for Mr. Sam's company? How true-to-life are these statements? Any perspective from inside would be helpful, but I'd especially appreciate insights about the mid- to senior-level executive culture.
I'm not asking about life at Walmart retail stores, which has been discussed previously. Instead, I'm interested in learning more about Walmart corporate culture at the mothership in Bentonville, Arkansas.
I've seen some articles about Walmart's relationship with its suppliers, and there's lots about corporate interaction (or conflict) with local communities, but what's it like on the inside working for Mr. Sam's company? How true-to-life are these statements? Any perspective from inside would be helpful, but I'd especially appreciate insights about the mid- to senior-level executive culture.
Cheap.
Like, oh-my-God cheap. I've read that offices are furnished by whatever Wal-Mart needs to test out, and not actually nice furniture. I know from coworkers who have worked there (as consultants) that even upper-level managers are required to do things like fly coach no matter what, and share hotel rooms.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 9:43 PM on June 9, 2010
Like, oh-my-God cheap. I've read that offices are furnished by whatever Wal-Mart needs to test out, and not actually nice furniture. I know from coworkers who have worked there (as consultants) that even upper-level managers are required to do things like fly coach no matter what, and share hotel rooms.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 9:43 PM on June 9, 2010
I'm assuming you've already read glassdoor.com reviews.
I've never been to the offices myself, but heard from multiple consultants that have worked for them exactly what TheNewWazoo said -- sharing a hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express sort of thing. A friend of mine claimed he sat in mismatched patio furniture in someone's office for a meeting. This was, however, a few years ago.
There seems to be a typical level of politics for a company that size, although there did seem to be a level of enthusiasm and team work -- the execs have bought into the spirit, think they can change the world, and given their retail power, they can for good or for ill.
Everyone I know who's been at Walmart.com has had nothing but extreme, glowing praise about working there and has been there a long time.
posted by Gucky at 10:55 PM on June 9, 2010
I've never been to the offices myself, but heard from multiple consultants that have worked for them exactly what TheNewWazoo said -- sharing a hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express sort of thing. A friend of mine claimed he sat in mismatched patio furniture in someone's office for a meeting. This was, however, a few years ago.
There seems to be a typical level of politics for a company that size, although there did seem to be a level of enthusiasm and team work -- the execs have bought into the spirit, think they can change the world, and given their retail power, they can for good or for ill.
Everyone I know who's been at Walmart.com has had nothing but extreme, glowing praise about working there and has been there a long time.
posted by Gucky at 10:55 PM on June 9, 2010
even upper-level managers are required to do things like fly coach no matter what
That sounds a little strange considering that Wal-Mart has one of the largest corporate flight departments in the country flying large biz jets in the Global Express and Challenger families. They also have their own aviation maintenance division instead of farming it out to contractors, so I think that might just be another of the typical anti-wal mart stories.
posted by 543DoublePlay at 5:25 AM on June 10, 2010
That sounds a little strange considering that Wal-Mart has one of the largest corporate flight departments in the country flying large biz jets in the Global Express and Challenger families. They also have their own aviation maintenance division instead of farming it out to contractors, so I think that might just be another of the typical anti-wal mart stories.
posted by 543DoublePlay at 5:25 AM on June 10, 2010
I think that might just be another of the typical anti-wal mart stories.
Those must be very upper level execs, because when a company I previously worked for had high level marketing execs come out, they flew standard airlines.
posted by Gucky at 8:07 PM on June 10, 2010
Those must be very upper level execs, because when a company I previously worked for had high level marketing execs come out, they flew standard airlines.
posted by Gucky at 8:07 PM on June 10, 2010
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posted by nadawi at 7:14 PM on June 9, 2010