Thread regarding Walmart layoffs

Anything to push out opticians and reduce payroll. Who cares about remakes lol. Planning to put optical online only at some point.

Walmart To Acquire AR Optical Tech Company Memomi
Acquisition will enable Walmart to continue to offer fun, frictionless virtual optical try-on capabilities and contact-free digital measurements

Thoughts?

What happened to the “Big changes” coming? The optical threads have both commented that something was brewing. Another lie, I guess?

I have been watching this thread for a couple of days now. Unlike many threads on this forum, I personally believe there’s some good info here. I’m going to add some things to think about.

1. At Walmart, the purpose of the Ethics area is to protect the company from litigation and/or prosecution. I can say unequivocally that (in most cases) associates receive little or no direct protection or support there, with the obvious exceptions.

2. Regarding 2nd pair and measurements…… In reality, there’s a VP somewhere who’s got a GOAL to implement the devices and increase sales. Getting out in front of the VC is seen as a good way to flag down prospective customers. I mean after all, you have to get them in before you can make the sale. GOALS are delegated down through the chain so when they get down to the reg/div level, it’s pretty specific what they are supposed to be laser focused on.

3. At Walmart, there’s this unwritten but closely observed rule: once a decision is made, get on board and shut up. It doesn’t matter if the decision is wrong or bad. Once they decide, they expect execution. I can site many examples of stupid things that unfolded simply because no one questioned the logic or process.

4. Leadership in Bentonville, in my opinion, is not what it used to be. Sam said to swim upstream, remember that? There was a time when you could, but that time has passed. Right now, I think the only way you are going to make significant change is through outside channels, but beware…. They could hunt you down and you will be gone.

Lastly, do not underestimate Walmart’s ability to know things. You are on their WiFi. You might even be on a company phone plan. I’d be careful. Nothing you say or type into a cell phone is private.

That’s correct. VCMs with any sort of alternative outlook, suggestion or methods are completely shot down, and snuffed out like a Marlboro in an Iowa cattle carnival port a potty.

“LEADERS WHO DON'T LISTEN WILL EVENTUALLY BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO SAY”

• ANDY STANLEY

This sums it all up. When the good ones go silent, it’s too late.

MHWD, I appreciate you commenting here. Hopefully you forward this thread to your regional and they can model your peers after you. Most of us know as opticians that anything our VCMs bring up is just shot down, like they’re just complaining because the MHWD or RHWD don’t see what vision brings to the company.
Also, the problem with measurements is that they are incorrect and we’re being forced to use them unethically in 3,000 plus stores with 1,000s of patients getting the wrong measurements. You’re acknowledging it, stating the company is aware yet we’re forced to use this software that doesn’t work. How is this ethical or legal? Maybe I need to learn more about whistleblower protections as Walmart ethics will not protect me from retaliation.
Purchasing Memomi was a mistake, among the many mistakes this company does with their vision department(ECW, double blind re-entry, building 1800 contacts, selling their safety program to bridgemart, etc.). The only reason vision does as well as it does is due to the staff in the stores.

No problem at all. I just hope this individual finds their own happiness. I know there are upset people. I know there are many more good people. I get everyone’s frustrations and that’s mainly because you care about your patients and your profession and wish walmart can become that go to vision center. Yes there are likely some MHWD and RHWD who may be pushing an agenda. But it is not all of us. I hope one day you all get a MHWD and RHWD you can respect and yes I hope as a company, we can be better.

To clarify….the person who made the uncalled for and immature comment is NOT one of the few you were conversing with this morning.

The same MHWD here.
Poster who think I chucked my morals and ethics. What really is bothering you? I can’t imagine it’s all based on your MHWD and RHWD. Sorry you’re not enjoying your supervisor. Wish there was something I can do to help you and your career but we know through a channel like this it is hard to do so. I’ll tell you I didn’t chuck any morals or ethics taking on this job. I enjoy my job. My team, I believe, enjoys having me as their supervisor and guide. I don’t pull the boss card. No one likes that. Hope you have a great weekend and things turn around for you.

I don’t know how often you have a mhwd responding on one of these but the person seems genuine enough to answer and try to shed some light and you just insult them asking why they sold their soul. Yeah you sound like you’re part of the problem. Sometimes we wonder why we don’t get nice things or some attention. Toxic people.

To the person who thinks all MHWD are the same.
Maybe you’re actually part of the problem if you think everyone is the same just because of a job title. Sounds like you need a hug

To the MHWD.

What made you decide to chuck your morals and ethics and pursue your current role? I mean, you people would make the Devil blush with some of the kr-p you pull.

Dropping a region number would be harder for a self ID. Can’t really deny it was said neither if it came from a regional as they likely told multiple markets.
I get dropping a specific market number. Easier to identify who brought it up

There is no chance of a self ID happening here. Good to know that behavior is not across the board.

That means it’s likely a BU level problem or perhaps a regional problem.

We shall see!

We are afraid of retaliation. I hope this person speaks up and mentions what market they’re in, or better yet what market are you? Then they can reach out to you instead of voicing it here and putting their job on the line.

It sounds like you run a good market, maybe you could train regionals and other directors.

I can address your 5 points.

1. that’s not true in my Market. Which Market is this happening in? Also not happening my peer MHWD markets neither as they tell me what’s going on in theirs.
2. I’ve never heard of this for vending machines. Which Region is that coming out of? If that was the case there are plenty of lease space available in many stores that if that was the intention, they would already be vending machines there.
3. Not true. Speculation sure. But not true and I know enough people at Home Office to know this isn’t the case. So which Markets are you hearing this from?
4. I have a weekly calendar for my team for their calls. So they know exactly the time of day well in advance as it is the same time and day everyday. So which Market is this?
5. I don’t do that. So which Market is doing that? I can care less about metrics rather than behaviors.

If you’re not willing to tell me which Market and Region is doing this then I am of no help and your points will never be addressed. So please help me out and give me the specific details

While your 5 points are valid, the other points brought up are also. The optical division is falling about without any vision or direction from the current leadership.

Even if I have access to look at reports of stores doing 30%+, I’m not going to throw their store under the radar unless I know for sure they are doing something. Imagine if you get a call from ethics, everything points out correctly and there are no questions on their practice. That team will forever think they are being watched. So if no one is willing to throw store numbers out there, then I won’t be able to assist.

There are some flaws with the measurements. I get it and it’s been brought up. I would suggest if you have specific jobs with these issues, save them for your MHWD on your next visit and show them the issue. If they care that their MD are high, then they will address it because if you think they care about their bonus and paycheck, then they will care about those markdowns hurting their PnL.

I get the comments about you needing to sit down and work on items on the computer or in the lab. But I will tell you first hand I know people sit and watch YouTube videos. If you don’t think that is happening, give me your store number and I’ll watch video from your 6pm to close everyday for a month and I’ll let you know if your location does a great job keeping busy/doing what they should or if they are watching videos. Not trying to be a jerk in anyway but trying to advocate on both sides and perspective.

In usual fashion, we are losing focus of the primary issues that were mentioned by a prior commenter.

1. If you’re not working directly with a patient the expectation is that EVERY associate is out in front of the VC harassing people about their glasses. Not just one person. Every single associate.

2. Regional coming into locations telling the staff that WM would be better off with snack vending machines in the VC space instead of optical.

3. Market directors in various markets telling everyone that WM is looking into closing all of the VCs. (Even IF true, how is that supposed to motivate people?)

4. Market directors requiring ALL staff on conference calls with a days notice. If associates aren’t on the call (even if they’re scheduled off that day), then the VCM leadership capability is called into question in front of the entire market on the call.

5. We are constantly told that “if they’re not buying multiple pairs then that means you’re not properly caring for your patients.” And “if your remakes are above x amount it means that you’re not caring for your patients.”

None of this is acceptable behavior from leadership of any company.

It’s real simple. As a MHWD, you can escalate all of these allegations upward to the top and it can and should be cascaded downward that none of this behavior should be exhibited and nobody should tolerate it.

A simple email to all of Optical including MHWD, RHWD, BU leaders, VCMs and VC associates. “It has come to our attention that there is some concerning behavior going on in the vision centers. It has been addressed with leadership as a whole that it will not be tolerated going forward. Any and all reports of this behavior will be completely anonymous. Etc. etc. etc.”

Interesting how none of these 5 allegations were addressed by the MHWD.

Can all of staff be required to be on conf calls with no notice regardless of if they’re scheduled to work that day and time?

Is it appropriate for a MHWD to denigrate the VCMs “leadership capability” if some of the staff aren’t on the call on their off day?

Is Walmart discussing closing all of the vision centers? If not, how is it ok to threaten that to the entire market of VC staff? If SO, then why would you tell the entire market VC staff that? That doesn’t motivate. That causes staff attrition and loss of motivation. “Why bother?”

Is it not unrealistic to expect every VC associate to only have two tasks that are acceptable. 1. Working with a patient. 2. Intercepts, and if you’re caught doing anything other than intercepting or working with a patient, a coaching is warranted?

Is it not grossly unethical, disrespectful and uncalled for for a regional to tell a VCM and their staff that “Walmart would be better off with a snack vending machine in here instead of the VC.”?

We all know none of this is right.

We all know that MOST of the people doing this stuff are just leading by the example set above them, and they’re leading via fear because that’s how they’re being led.

It has to stop.

You have a valid point, but it’s not hard to find out which stores they are. You have access to reports showing the top stores with 30% or more in second pairs when the numbers are that much better of their peers then something is going on. What about the other issues brought up? Are you seeing success with the digital measurements or are your teams just telling you everything is fine due to the fear of retaliation- this isn’t an attack on you even though it sound so. I’m going to word it differently, do you truly know your teams and can they actually speak freely. You seem like you care, but I can tell you first hand most vision center teams do not trust their MHWD, regionals etc. we’ve been lied to for years at this point. Told that we would be getting advertising, or the software will get better, lab issues will be fixed, the list goes on and on.

Without exact details with exact store numbers it would be almost impossible to have a starting point because ethics will not interview hundreds of stores after the first random store selected had no merit. Feel free to drop specific store numbers if you want it reported. Please don’t say just look at the report to find store numbers and do filtering. People on this thread know of specific stores. If you don’t want to drop store numbers then I can’t help you.

MHWD, now that someone has brought up unethical issues shouldn’t you be opening up an ethics concern? There’s a lot of information in this thread that should be address not only unethical but legally.

MHWD, regionals, optical regionals etc don’t want to fix anything, just collect that check. You want us to open an ethics ticket which is supposed to be an anonymous but isn’t.

Wasn’t it last year Walmart fired a license optician because she refused to use the digital measurements? It was all over Facebook, the woman deleted her Facebook posts and account due to Walmart retaliating against her. Tell me why I’d risk my job when I have a family to Feed.

Maybe more people will chime in, the vision centers are falling apart. Pay isn’t in line with other companies, the computer system is terrible, insurance billing system should be investigated, improper measurements going out, the list keeps going.

Those things aren’t happening in our market, so I can’t be let go due to a peer cheating.

No, what we in our market fear being fired for is not having EVERY person on staff for the day standing in front of the VC or in the store doing intercepts.

If we have to step inside to take care of an admin task we are constantly looking over our shoulder to ensure the MHWD is not walking in.

God forbid we sit down to complete a schedule, complete one of the 9 spreadsheets or trackers we are required to do each week, do some CBLs, or some optician licensing training. It is as if the world will explode if someone is caught sitting down without a patient in front of them.

Doing intercepts on an hourly schedule, sure. Each associate takes turns rotating every hour.

But expecting everyone out front at all times is just bonkers.

I’ve been with Walmart for 12 years in three different departments. I’ve been in vision for 9 years and this has never happened. This didn’t start til the last year or two.

This tells me that this fear based leadership model is coming from somewhere up top or very near the top.

Same MHWD here as before.
Just an FYI that I am one of those who is not a pharmacist and you are correct, most are pharmacist but there are plenty who are not.

I can tell you my team doesn’t cook the books and if you know this is happening, open an ethics ticket. Once ethics is involved, then there is no hiding no matter how good the numbers look. If you don’t want to do an ethics because your peers or your MHWD will get in trouble, that could be something holding you back. But if you feel like you’re going to get fired or a disciplinary action for not getting to a number, will you be okay with being let go knowing your peer cheated.

Sad to hear all that is happening.

With all due respect, (seriously, no disrespect intended at all) with that logic, there would be many more MHWD’s who are not pharmacists. (I know there are a very few that actually are not pharmacists, but that’s the exception, not the rule.) Many associates and managers can change their own oil. You don’t need a license to change oil.

The iPads ARE NOT ACCURATE. When anybody musters the courage to point it out, they’re denigrated as being wrong, inept, and threatened with coaching. This is not any particular market. This is broad based. (A leader who has optical background and not just “people management” responsibility, would understand the importance of accurate measurements, down to the millimeter. Instead, they threaten “out of compliance.”)

There is NO REASON why licensed opticians, some with decades of experience should have to HIDE the pupilometers for fear of their job.

Anyhow, the primary concern here in this thread appears to be the abusive fear based tactics being utilized companywide to achieve an arbitrary metric that (frankly) does not yield the desired end result, which is more sales. There are 17 ways from Sunday that unscrupulous VCMs can “cook the books” in terms of multiples. It appears that some MHWDs are condoning the behavior as well, seeing as how certain MHWDs have 7 of the top ten multiple stores in the BU week after week.

Their great “result” is praised week after week, making the folks who are following the rules and behaving ethically look bad, albeit artificially.

Some stores are talking patients out of getting a nice high end $400 Cadillac set and convincing them to get TWO pair of lower quality glasses for $250 total.

Some stores are discounting the $400 Cadillac pair by $39 and adding on a $39 pair of readers “at no cost.”

Some stores are splitting a six month contact lens order into two three month orders.

Some stores are ringing $0 insurance orders with completely unrelated self pay/balance due orders. They “sandbag” them for days and weeks at a time to add on to other orders.

NONE of this behavior is being addressed and remedied by MHWDs. Why? Because the numbers make them look good. No matter how it’s attained.

BU leaders etc love to tout the “industry standard is 30-40% multiple pairs so if you can’t achieve 20% you’re terrible” line…..but industry standard is having a misleading ad campaign that says 2 pair for $90. So, those customers come in with the MINDSET of two pair before they even walk in the door. It’s like comparing apples to screwdrivers.

I’m sorry to read all this and the bad experiences some of you may be having. I’ll be honest, I’m a MHWD and although I don’t put much attention in my VC as I do my Rx, I know each of my vcm and opticians know I care for them and they can pick up the phone and call me anytime.
I don’t have a solution for you all on your frustration. As much as you think upper management should be someone who works in VC, and I get where you are coming from, the role is really about managing people. Your store manager will never know how to do an oil change, but they can manage the people who do them. You will always be the specialist in the field, and your MHWD should be a guide to help find solutions, at least that’s how I feel like I am utilized as well as to give an idea or perspective.
My suggestion to you is if you really feel like your MHWD is doing nothing and completely ignoring your operations, then call them out. Tell your RHWD in an email that I haven’t seen my MHWD in months and have no idea who they are. If your RHWD comes by, you can decide to call out your MHWD and say long time no see.

Thanks for all you all do. Obviously I can’t speak for all MHWD but for those who are trying to save the business and trying to run the plays. Thank you for that.

They can’t even run their vision centers correctly, how will they run clinics? David Retinuer or however you spell his name doesn’t have a clue about vision or how to run a vision business, but these cheap hearing aids will bring us into the future but we can’t make a pair of glasses efficiently because the system is so slow. Hopefully he’ll become part of one of the layoffs, he’s proven to be useless much like the optical regionals who have done nothing for the business. Then the regional and market directors who are complacent, both of those roles should be temporary roles and not long term careers. They’re just there to collect a paycheck not to provide support to their vision centers or pharmacies. All regionals and directors should be demoted that have been in role for more than 5 years.

A pharmacist who barely knows how to manage a business shouldn’t be covering a business they know nothing of, digital measurements are wrong but they don’t want to rock the boat so they tell their bosses that it’s working great- we and many other stores have reported this to the state boards hopefully more will follow us because forcing us to use wrong measurements for glasses is unethical and puts licenses on the line!

Let’s mention the billing, I’m not sure how it’s legal either as patients get bills afterwards because the system is billing incorrectly. I’d be pretty upset if I’m told one thing and then receive a bill later. Which also reduces patient confidence, but these rayban story sunglasses we just got will save our plans- wait we can’t even sell them because they can’t figure out how to make that work with the system.

At this point selling off vision would be the best move for the business and everyone in it.

@aoks+1ifC2dkb -and- others: Thanks for your comments. Message received. I can do some poking around. 🙏

Everything about management of the Vision Centers is a joke. We just rolled out the much needed new warranty program, with extremely poor direction, no marketing support and no signing. Additionally the systems group in Bentonville can not figure out how to stop the registers from taxing the warranty when you ring them up. We received a forwarded email from our Regional stating they were aware of the problem and their best people were working on it. This has been going on for over a week…. Just like the allocation issue on Kids polycarbonate lenses when using VSP insurance. The allocation is like 2 cents off, and will not finalize unless you manually fix the issue. Those issues are not important, but every associate not selling 20% second pairs to Medicaid patients is a company crisis

Yep. Similar case in Division A.

I have been an optician for 15 years and with Walmart for 7 years, and I have NEVER seen such inept leadership and management from supposed executives.

1. If you’re not working directly with a patient the expectation is that EVERY associate is out in front of the VC harassing people about their glasses. Not just one person. Every single associate.

2. Regional coming into locations telling the staff that WM would be better off with snack vending machines in the VC space instead of optical.

3. Market directors in various markets telling everyone that WM is looking into closing all of the VCs. (Even IF true, how is that supposed to motivate people?)

4. Market directors requiring ALL staff on conference calls with a days notice. If associates aren’t on the call (even if they’re scheduled off that day), then the VCM leadership capability is called into question in front of the entire market on the call.

5. We are constantly told that “if they’re not buying multiple pairs then that means you’re not properly caring for your patients.” And “if your remakes are above x amount it means that you’re not caring for your patients.”

40% of remakes are due to patients abusing their glasses and taking advantage of the liberal warranty. Another 40% of remakes are due to lab errors. The labs are sending out JUNK more frequently than ever. 10% of remakes is due to the patient being indecisive. 10% is due to optician error in store.

This behavior from leadership is abusive. And nobody is reporting it because EVERYBODY knows that “non retaliation” is NOT a thing.

So, to the corp folks with eyes here. You need to look into this abusive behavior because there will be a collective effort to pushback eventually if the abusive tactics are not ended.

The Senior Leadership in Division M regarding the Vision Centers is appalling. The previous post about threading VC associates who don't sell 20% multiple pairs is 100% accurate, and for many stores who's primary patients are medicaid it like tying to squeeze water out of rock. Yes sales are tough in VC. How about getting them staffed with O.D's and opticians? Where is our online presence ? We are getting ki---d by Zeni and others.

Threating Market Directors ( ours is a basket case right now), forcing the (hourly) VC managers to have one on ones with the Regional and Divisional to review plans of action on second pairs, and warranty MD's is nothing be fear tactics.

The vision center associates are literally FORCED and constantly threatened with their jobs to sell multiple pairs to as many people as possible. It’s really really being very badly mismanaged from above.

The threats, denigration and intimidation from Market level and above must stop.

Associates in vision center tried to sell me glasses I didn’t like. They were insistent. I know what I like and no don’t push a pair of ugly glasses on me. I’m not stupid. The customer service sucks.

To be fair, the associates that work IN the vision centers, are mostly very knowledgeable. Especially in states that require an opticians license to operate.

Where the vast majority of issues lie, in terms of lens issues, is the mass production warehouse style labs where the lenses are made.

Walmart pays those workers $11 bucks an hour and as expected, can’t keep help, and have to constantly retrain them.

It’s sad that they’re shutting down the vision centers because they do offer comparable products as private eye doctors and lens crafters, at 1/3 the price in many cases.

Hopefully they sell the locations to NVI instead of outright closing them all.

Great. I’ve had 3 pairs of glasses made from the vision center and each pair was messed up. Lenses were cut wrong on first pair and blurry. Second pair lenses were again cut wrong and had a rainbow effect in lenses. Third pair the lenses were scratched when I picked them up. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!
I decided to not go back a fourth time and go to a reputable eye doctor.
They literally don’t know what they are doing.

My sister is an optician for Walmart and she says she was told on a conference call last Friday that “Walmart is thinking about shutting down all vision centers.”

Walmart Health WILL shutdown soon. There are simply not enough doctors available to fill the roles.

There’s a ton of Walmart health positions open both business leadership roles and in clinic roles like dentists, pcps, etc

The only changes coming to Optical is the hiring of more AOD’s. They are not changing anything else at store level.

Get ready. It’s coming!