Wal-Mart Expects 22,000 New Jobs

Retail Giant Plans 150 New Or Expanded Stores In U.S. For 2009

(AP)  As Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opens about 150 new or expanded stores in the U.S. in 2009, the company expects to hire about 22,000 people for new positions.

Those positions include plenty of cashiers and stock clerks, but the world's largest retailer will also be adding store managers, pharmacists and personnel workers.

Wal-Mart is holding its annual shareholders meeting on Friday, and employees from its stores around the world are spending the week in Bentonville at company headquarters.

Wal-Mart, still the target of criticism from union-backed groups for its pay and benefits, has improved its health insurance coverage and opened it to full- and part-time employees. The company says 94 percent of its employees have health coverage, either through Wal-Mart or another family member.

"At Wal-Mart, we offer competitive pay and benefits and real opportunities for our associates to advance and build careers," Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright said. "Job creation is just one way in which we're working hard every day to help people across this country live better."

Other employee benefits include a 401(k) plan, stock purchases and discounts for workers making in-store purchases.

The company has touted its generic drugs program in which Wal-Mart is selling $4 prescriptions for many popular medicines. Competitors, such as Kroger Co., have matched the price for some prescriptions.

"During this difficult economic time, we're proud to be able to create quality jobs for thousands of Americans this year," Castro-Wright said.

Earlier this year, the company shared more than $2 billion with its workers through bonuses, profit sharing and payments into the company 401(k) plan.

Wal-Mart has more than 2.1 million employees in the U.S. and abroad. The company had sales last fiscal year of $401 billion.

[jbar116]

Yeah let's all go work for less than minimum wage at a company that forces small businesses to go out of business and has one of the worse employee managment records and lowest pay scale around while they make more money than god. They advertise all the good they do in the communities but it is at the expense of small business and their employees who barely make a living. Don't allow them to build in your community unless you want to close up all the mom & pop businesses in town.

[puzzler125]

I just got laid off and I STILL wouldn't work at Wal-Mart. It was the most miserable work experience of my life.

[underdogus09]

Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal. Hey, that's a great idea ...the guy who made $50 billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $750 billion disappear.

[Dgunner]

Walmart is the worst enternal threat to The United States since post www two depression

[bajajohn1]

Jabba the Hut Limpdoodle will insult Canadians once he learns that you have freedoms.

[erasmus111]

Where in Canada were you born?
Posted by rushlimpdrug at 9:22 PM : Jun 4, 2009

British Columbia.

[erasmus111]

I'll put in my papers to be a part of "the greatest country," as you put it and live happily ever after up there.
Posted by dkhorse11 at 9:21 PM : Jun 4, 2009

NO! I told you, you can't just come up and start living here. : )

[rushlimpdrug]

I think we would survive. I think that the U.S. may be more dependant on us. You need our oil, lumber and WATER.
Posted by erasmus111 at 9:14 PM


Where in Canada were you born?

[dkhorse11]

I think we would survive. I think that the U.S. may be more dependant on us. You need our oil, lumber and WATER.
Posted by erasmus111 at 9:14 PM : Jun 4, 2009

So you've got everything future migrates like me would need to make up there? Fantastic! So I'll put in my papers to be a part of "the greatest country," as you put it and live happily ever after up there.

[erasmus111]

What about dual citizenship? Everyone else seems to be doing it!
Posted by dkhorse11 at 9:08 PM : Jun 4, 2009

I'm not sure what you mean.

I don't think that you can just come into the country anymore and become a citizen. You have to have relatives or marry a Canadian.

[erasmus111]

I would be best if we took are manufacturing out of Canada and left you to the cold!

Posted by dkhorse11 at 9:03 PM : Jun 4, 2009

I think we would survive. I think that the U.S. may be more dependant on us. You need our oil, lumber and WATER.

[dkhorse11]

Unless you have relatives to sponsor you, of course.
Posted by erasmus111 at 9:01 PM : Jun 4, 2009

What about dual citizenship? Everyone else seems to be doing it!

[dkhorse11]

Americans are CHEAP. They want this and they don't want that, but they aren't willing to pay for it. : )
Posted by erasmus111 at 8:49 PM : Jun 4, 2009

I would be best if we took are manufacturing out of Canada and left you to the cold!

I do love the scenery, and nature though! You do have that going for you!

[erasmus111]

Come on you're Canadian, your countries position, openly has been for freedom of everything, now you're telling me I can't have some of it, since I lack it here in America? I can't go up and benefit from it there in Canada?

Posted by dkhorse11 at 8:55 PM : Jun 4, 2009

I'm afraid if you want to live in the best country in the world, you are probably going to have to get yourself a Canadian girlfriend and marry her. That's if she'll have you. : )
Unless you have relatives to sponsor you, of course.

[dkhorse11]

I would not like the fact that you were here illegally, taking our jobs or healthcare. But then you wouldn't be able to do that here, so it is unlikely that you would want to stay. : )
You might be able to smoke some great B.C. weed, but it will cost ya.

As far as checking your health in a FREE clinic, that won't happen. We all pay for our health care. We have health care cards and if you don't have one, then you will need to pay.

Posted by erasmus111 at 8:41 PM : Jun 4, 2009

Come on you're Canadian, your countries position, openly has been for freedom of everything, now you're telling me I can't have some of it, since I lack it here in America? I can't go up and benefit from it there in Canada? WOW, talk up your system, then tell everyone you can't be part of it! RIP OFF! Or Fu<k OFF!

[erasmus111]

Around here, most illegals are Mexican. So if you object to illegal workers, you get accused of being racist.



Posted by bothR2blame31 at 8:29 PM : Jun 4, 2009

Well from what I have seen on here, there are a good many racists. But when I am talking about illegal immigrants, I'm not talking about anyone in particular. Just because you don't want someone entering the country illegally, doesn't mean you are a racist. Just because you don't want ANYONE ILLEGALLY taking your jobs, doesn't mean you are a racist.

"No, most people see illegals as a way of paying a lower price to get things. They don't want enforcement of border control if it means they have to pay higher prices."

Americans are CHEAP. They want this and they don't want that, but they aren't willing to pay for it. : )

[erasmus111]

In Canada I would blend, no way to pick me out of the crowd! If I was there "Illegally" would you hate me for being there. I would love smoke some BC weed, check my health at a free clinic. And simply blend into the fabric, would that be a problem. It's inviting!
Posted by dkhorse11 at 8:24 PM : Jun 4, 2009

I would not like the fact that you were here illegally, taking our jobs or healthcare. But then you wouldn't be able to do that here, so it is unlikely that you would want to stay. : )

You might be able to smoke some great B.C. weed, but it will cost ya.

As far as checking your health in a FREE clinic, that won't happen. We all pay for our health care. We have health care cards and if you don't have one, then you will need to pay.

[erasmus111]

If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
Posted by bothR2blame31 at 8:18 PM : Jun 4, 2009

Yes, there's nothing like having a good handyman around. : )

[erasmus111]

But how hard would it be for Obama to MENTION that he sees this as a problem he intends to address?

He doesn't seem to make the best use of his time. Or of our money.

Posted by bothR2blame31 at 8:16 PM : Jun 4, 2009

I just think that he's got a zillion things happening at once and he will get to these things eventually. I mean when you have that many things you have to do, how do you decide which you should look at first? People are always going to disagree on what should be the top priority.

Like I said before, I wasn't for Obama in the beginning. I always said that if Obama gets in, there will probably be BIG problems. I think McCain would have been an even worse choice. Hillary would have been my choice. There is never any way of knowing how things are going to turn out. I just think that Obama is now your President and everyone should stand behind him and give them their support. He may not be the greatest, but he's all you got. He has a lot to deal with, so I 'm thinking that it's only fair to give him a chance. Hopefully he will get things straightened out, but who knows.

[dkhorse11]

We do not hate foreigners. And no, I do not criticize any country for not wanting people to enter it ILLEGALLY.
Posted by erasmus111 at 8:06 PM : Jun 4, 2009

In Canada I would blend, no way to pick me out of the crowd! If I was there "Illegally" would you hate me for being there. I would love smoke some BC weed, check my health at a free clinic. And simply blend into the fabric, would that be a problem. It's inviting!