Gone but not forgotten: 10pm to 7am greeters at the Walmart.
We knew that the Great Recession has changed our culture permanently -- and maybe in ways that I don't even yet recognize (from a historical perspective, my biological father -- born in 1923 and NOT in this picture that I found on google images -- was a child of the Great Depression, so we didn't even get to skip a generation when it comes to economic collapses) -- but now it turns out that even corporate behemoth Walmart has not been spared. Recently announced -- no more "welcome to Walmart" in the overnight hours, as greeters who worked that time slot were reassigned.
Those with whom I really usually just tried to avoid contact while walking into the store (in my pajamas ... or a little buzzed?) ... I guess you will be missed.
DO YOU REALLY FEEL LESS WELCOME NOW THAT THEY'VE CHANGED THINGS?:
WELCOME TO WALMART IS ON IMDB (the 12 min training video, apparently):
BREAKING DOWN THE JOB:
Walmart is not firing them. Can't have all those unemployment claims to pay. Most are reassigned, but a lot of the greeters just stand there, perhaps a bit further back from the door. This is used for old men and women who can't be reassigned to a more productive area. I have seen greeters at Garden Center gate now just watering flowers nearby, not greeting unless spoken to. I don't see Walmart saving a lot of payroll dollars yet. Position is gone though, so eventually all current greeters will be gone. Know of none fired. Press and Media using "got rid of" a lot in their stories and features about Walmart Greeters. An increase in theft by shoppers walking out the door by not paying has started happening. TV sets are too big to bag, and are no longer checked by greeters looking at cash register receipts.
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