Unaffordable Insurance
Cindy’s husband works at a local hospital, and to supplement their dental coverage, Cindy bought into the plan at Wal-Mart. She paid $12 per month to provide secondary dental insurance for herself and her husband. She came to find out too late that her husband, because he already has insurance that pays 80%, is not eligible for coverage by Wal-Mart. Cindy’s husband went to the dentist for some routine work, and before his appointment, Cindy called the Wal-Mart benefits office to clarify and confirm that her husband’s bill would be covered. Wal-Mart assured her that he would, but shortly after the visit, the Starns received a bill for the dental work. When Cindy called Wal-Mart this time, her contact told her that the initial information was incorrect. Cindy is locked into the plan for two years and Wal-Mart did not refund any money she paid for coverage of her spouse.
Cindy has talked to other women she works with, asking them, out of curiosity, if they get health care through Wal-Mart. More than one single mother has laughed at the idea. The company insurance is so expensive and offers such low benefits that they prefer (and receive) the state-offered health insurance for their children and themselves, according to Cindy.
Gender and Age Discrimination
Cindy is a grandmother and finds it unfair that younger, less-experienced associates are consistently given better jobs and better wages at her store. However, women workers of all ages experience unequal treatment at her Wal-Mart store.
Cindy started off as a jewelry clerk at Wal-Mart. She and the two other full-time clerks she worked with had been told that one position would be eliminated in two weeks. One morning two weeks later after clocking-in to work, she was called into her manger’s office. Having always been on-time and ready to work, with no problems, Cindy wasn’t too concerned about the impromptu meeting.
Her manager told her that as of that moment, it was her position in jewelry was being eliminated. She could either choose to become a cashier and take a $.20 pay cut or they would have to let her go. Cindy took the pay cut and became a cashier. Despite having been a cashier for 10 years before coming to Wal-Mart, but they started her at a wage of $8.40. Cindy has put in for other positions within the store and has routinely been denied the work. Most recently, she applied to work in the back doing stocking, but before that, she applied to be put back in Jewelry. Two positions had come up. Having experience already in the department and with the store, Cindy was told that she would be a shoe-in. She had already planned and been approved to take vacation time. When she came back, both positions had been filled, and Cindy continued to be a cashier.
But Cindy has noticed unequal treatment of women of all ages at her store. Male workers seem to experience subtle but consistent privileges. For example, Cindy must always clock out before buying her lunch, even it is from the Subway store located within the Wal-Mart. This requires walking back and forth from the front to the back of the store, which takes times out of her break. However, one of the greeters, an older man, is permitted to go to Subway before clocking-out for lunch. Furthermore, a male cart-gatherer has fallen asleep in the bathroom during work hours on various occasions, yet continues to be employed by the company. In addition, a male cashier has repeatedly come up short in his till, sometimes upwards of $90, but has maintained his position longer than expected by the other (mostly female) cashiers.
More Wal-Mart Worker Stories:
A. G. White
Bettie Madsen
Cindy Starns
Cynthia Murray
Dana Razaie
Diane Muthig
Five Workers From New York
Greg Pierce
Josh Smith
Kristen Bonardi Rapp
Lance Hindman
Mona Curtis
Ollie & Patricia Wells
Rosetta Brown
