# Let's Pit WalMart employees again **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 19, 2014, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918 "2014-09-19T10:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/1 "2014-09-19T10:09:18Z")
We’ve Pitted WalMart employees here before; they suckle at the teats of the Job-Creating Waltons, then turn around and suckle at the taxpayers’ teat, but [read about the latest outrage](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/09/walmart-dress-code_n_5792224.html) – now they want their employer to pay for their uniforms. WalMart management has carefully reviewed their request (“We always want to hear from our associates, it makes us a better company”) and rejected it. They complain that management keeps changing the dress-code, and it costs $50 to buy a new uniform. For heaven’s sake! First of all, WalMart does provide the WalMart-logo smock _free of charge_! … and gives the employee a standard discount for _all_ Walmart goods. If the employee still doesn’t make enough to buy a simple uniform why doesn’t he have the gumption to get a better job? Certainly we can’t blame WalMart for changing the dress-code frequently: with similar tired and frenzied looks, customers often have trouble distinguishing employees from other customers. The idea that WalMart’s hardworking stockholders should pay for uniforms is absurd. WalMart’s annual profit is only $16.4 billion. If they bought each of 2.2 million employees just two $50 suits per year, and were unable to recoup this loss with higher prices or higher productivity, profits would plummet to $16.2 billion per year. Would that be fair to the hardworking stockholders? Shame on WalMart employees. Go back to North Korea if you prefer communism. ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/2 "2014-09-19T10:29:41Z")
I always thought it was odd that Walmart wont allow unions or does everything they can to keep unions out. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/3 "2014-09-19T10:30:48Z")
Am I being whooshed? If Wal-Mart requires a uniform, then Wal-Mart can pay for the uniform. I will not join in and Pit the employees of Wal-Mart. Let’s Pit the owners. ---
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/4 "2014-09-19T10:58:50Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Am I being whooshed? > If Wal-Mart requires a uniform, then Wal-Mart can pay for the uniform. I will not join in and Pit the employees of Wal-Mart. Let’s Pit the owners. Yes, the OP is pitting walmart’s management. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/5 "2014-09-19T12:38:41Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > The idea that WalMart’s hardworking stockholders should pay for uniforms is absurd. WalMart’s annual profit is only $16.4 billion. If they bought each of 2.2 million employees just two $50 suits per year, and were unable to recoup this loss with higher prices or higher productivity, profits would plummet to $16.2 billion per year. Would that be fair to the hardworking stockholders? You have to look on the upside. All the employees buying new clothes at WalMart will boost their lagging sales figures. Didn’t Henry Ford famously pay his workers a high enough wage to afford one of his cars? This is the same thing, WalMart pays their workers enough to buy shitty Chinese clothing, then forces them to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/6 "2014-09-19T13:13:22Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > If the employee still doesn’t make enough to buy a simple uniform why doesn’t he have the gumption to get a better job? That’s what the employee is trying to do - at WalMart. If the employee is able to organize thousands of coworkers to bring an issue to management’s attention I suspect his “gumption” is not lacking. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/7 "2014-09-19T13:18:51Z")
Is sarcasm such a lost art? I thought the OP was lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/8 "2014-09-19T13:23:39Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Is sarcasm such a lost art? I thought the OP was lovely. _reads previously skipped last two paragraphs of OP_ _hangs head in shame_ ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/9 "2014-09-19T13:30:11Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Am I being whooshed? > If Wal-Mart requires a uniform, then Wal-Mart can pay for the uniform. I will not join in and Pit the employees of Wal-Mart. Let’s Pit the owners. even I knew the OP was sarcastic 😉 best part > [@](#): > > Certainly we can’t blame WalMart for changing the dress-code frequently: with similar tired and frenzied looks, customers often have trouble distinguishing employees from other customers. it’s funny cos it’s true! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/10 "2014-09-19T13:52:06Z")
Yes, it was obvious that the OP was being sarcastic. Except for this: > [@septimus](#): > > Shame on WalMart employees. Go back to North Korea if you prefer communism. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/11 "2014-09-19T14:37:29Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > even I knew the OP was sarcastic 😉 > best part > > it’s funny cos it’s true! That it is. I’ve been mistaken for a Walmart employee on numerous occasions. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/12 "2014-09-19T16:37:25Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Didn’t Henry Ford famously pay his workers a high enough wage to afford one of his cars? This is the same thing, WalMart pays their workers enough to buy shitty Chinese clothing, then forces them to buy it. Yeah, but considering [how many Walmart employees qualify for - and need - government assistance like Medicaid and SNAP](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/dec/06/alan-grayson/alan-grayson-says-more-walmart-employees-medicaid-/), they can’t even do THAT right! ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/13 "2014-09-19T16:38:03Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Am I being whooshed? > If Wal-Mart requires a uniform, then Wal-Mart can pay for the uniform. I will not join in and Pit the employees of Wal-Mart. Let’s Pit the owners. They are referring to it as a “dress code,” rather than a uniform, to put the onus on the employee. They are, however, providing vests to be worn over the appropriate “dress code” clothing. Vests that are made in Jordan, rather than in the US. Heckuva job, Walmart. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/14 "2014-09-19T16:47:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Is sarcasm such a lost art? I thought the OP was lovely. I found the OP to be more ironic than sarcastic, but that’s just because I’m a pedantic jackass. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/15 "2014-09-19T17:28:22Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I found the OP to be more ironic than sarcastic, but that’s just because I’m a pedantic jackass. As a pedant myself, I found it to be both. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/16 "2014-09-19T17:29:53Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > As a pedant myself, I found it to be both. I wrote that it was MORE ironic than sarcastic, not that it was ironic RATHER than sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/17 "2014-09-19T17:39:52Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Am I being whooshed? > If Wal-Mart requires a uniform, then Wal-Mart can pay for the uniform. I will not join in and Pit the employees of Wal-Mart. Let’s Pit the owners. You can borrow my Sarcasm-O-Meter. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/18 "2014-09-19T17:51:12Z")
Right-wing rhetoric is so over-the-top, even here at SDMB, that I try to make my sarcasm unmistakable. But I guess right-wing rhetoric in post-rational America is no longer distinguishable from its own caricature. Sorry; my intent was not to Whooosh. (But right-wingers are so lonely at intelligent message-boards, it did seem generous to offer them some help. 😛 ) I think I’ve been reprimanded before for facetious Pittings. No one’s used any cuss words yet, so Mods: Feel free to move this to IMHO if that’s a more appropriate forum. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/19 "2014-09-19T17:52:00Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > You can borrow my Sarcasm-O-Meter. 🙂 Marked down to $29.99 this week only ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-walmart-employees-again/698918/20 "2014-09-19T18:10:12Z")
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