September 14, 2005

Should WM Encourage Associates to Fight Back?

With the largest private workforce in the US, composed of people who mostly like their jobs and their employer, Wal-Mart could easily have facilitated a national "grass-roots" campaign composed of legions of rank-and-file associates. Yet, outside of engaging customers at a local, store-opening level, it has not mobilized such a force.

What if Wal-Mart encouraged associates to get involved -- by forming local support brigades, engaging others online, writing articles and letters to the editor, setting up counter protests, writing their own blogs on walmartfacts.com?

It might very well overwhelm the opposition in sheer size, though not in inside-the-beltway connections.

Just a few thoughts.

Posted by Kevin on September, 14 2005 at 09:21 AM

Comments & Trackbacks
Jim Gilliam wrote:

They could start by allowing comments on their "stories of hope" blog..

-- September 14, 2005 11:47 AM ∞

Kevin Brancato wrote:

I would personally be in favor of comments on selected posts, like many popular blogs permit, though WM's PR folks would have to think real hard about how to regulate and supervise content posted by outsiders.

And therein lies the potential downside for WM, as fostering groups outside of the traditional management structure, and permitting unusual openness, can give opponents another avenue of influence.

-- September 14, 2005 01:56 PM ∞

brandon weber wrote:

>composed of people who mostly like their jobs >and their employer, Wal-Mart

By what measure? That's a HUGE assumption, Kevin.

-- September 14, 2005 09:55 PM ∞

brandon weber wrote:

And if that many WM employees REALLY liked their employer enough to write positive missives about the company and did so on a rgular basis, let's say even just 1/3 of the total workforce, then I would suggest that such an effort would succeed in shutting down any opposition whatsoever, and Wal-Mart would win the PR battle in spades with that move.

If WM can pull that off, then you will hear nothing from anyone on the left, the middle, or anyplace else, because then it would be totally impossible for us to fight.

You think WM is ready for such a challenge?

Nah, didn't think so.

-- September 14, 2005 10:01 PM ∞