Walmart is discouraging its employees from downloading a mobile app developed by labor advocacy organization OUR Walmart that would allow them to chat and exchange workplace advice.
WorkIt, recently released in the Google Play store, gives users information on workplace rights at Walmart. Questions entered in the app’s chat function are answered by current and previous Walmart workers, but IBM Watson-powered artificial intelligence works in the background to provide quicker, potentially more accurate, responses.
Walmart has specifically told store managers to inform their employees that the app wasn’t made by the company, describing it as a scheme to gather workers’ personal information, according to a document viewed by The Wall Street Journal.
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The RTP editorial team discusses Walmart’s stance in the face of its recent workplace improvements, and the impact it could have on the rest of the retail industry.
Debbie Hauss, Editor-in-Chief: Walmart is notorious for trying to control its employees in any and every way. So I am not a bit surprised that the Walmart powers-that-be do not want employees getting any ‘original’ ideas from the advocacy group. But, with few exceptions in the U.S., Walmart is an anomaly and I don’t think this is going to be a practice that would be adopted by many other retail companies. In fact, most forward-thinking retailers realize that they really can’t control employee behavior when it comes to sharing thoughts and comments via social media. The smart companies are embracing this, encouraging employees to share via social, and helping them do so. It’s really a basic management mistake to try to tell employees they cannot do something that is not legally enforceable. If your employees are happy at their job, then they will likely share positive thoughts. On the occasion that they share negative thoughts, it’s in the best interest of the employer to respond respectably and address the issue in a professional manner.
Adam Blair, Executive Editor: When the Wall Street Journal — not exactly a bastion of left-wing solidarity — writes that Walmart is actively discouraging its employees from downloading a mobile app developed by an activist worker’s organization, you can tell the retailer has gone a step too far. While Walmart recently raised entry-level managers’ salaries and increased starting employees’ pay to $9 per hour, the Bentonville giant still has a contentious relationship with unions and labor advocacy groups. Telling employees which apps they can and can’t download (even if it doesn’t carry the force of an outright ban) seems to me a pretty clear abridgement of employees’ First Amendment rights, to read what they choose and associate with whom they like. The fact that the app provides useful information and uses the latest IBM Watson machine learning technology just means that the labor movement is getting more tech-savvy, and not a moment too soon. Ironically, Walmart’s tactics may simply draw more attention to the app than if the retailer had simply ignored it.
David DeZuzio, Managing Editor: In a matter of months Walmart has managed to slash whatever good feelings it has been able to evoke by reintroducing its “Smiley” rollback mascot and raising salaries for its entry-level managers. The brand is now dealing with labor unrest in China and an overreaching anti-union campaign here. As Adam stated, if Walmart ignored the app, this probably wouldn’t have snowballed into a situation that warranted a Wall Street Journal article. But in all reality, retailers can’t control (or attempt to strong-arm) what employees do and don’t download, subscribe to or believe in. Yes, this is bordering on a violation of the First Amendment. Yes, Walmart should know better. And, yes, this looks like another one of Walmart’s attempts at total employee control. The lesson? Listen to your employees. You don’t have to do what they say or ask of you, but at the very least, make an attempt to listen. At the same time, without being too brusque, if you don’t like workplace restrictions or conditions, you are more than likely free to find a new job. I’m sure working at Walmart for low wages is no picnic, but if an employee is really against their employer’s policies, find a new gig. I know, easier said than done, but when you sign on to work for Walmart, what do you expect?
Klaudia Tirico, Features Editor: Social media and chat apps are inevitable in this day and age, so it just seems silly for Walmart to think it can control employees to not practice their First Amendment right by forbidding the use of these channels. It seems as though Walmart has a guilty conscience and is worried about what their employees will say about working for the retailer — which is not a good mindset to have. Retailers should be encouraging their employees to speak up and rally together to make their jobs more enjoyable in an effort to provide a satisfying experience for customers. If a worker is treated fairly at their workplace — as they should be no matter where they work — the employer has nothing to worry about, right? Perhaps instead of making such a big deal over an app that employees may or may not even use, they should worry about the well-being of their employees. But that’s a whole different ball game.
Glenn Taylor, Senior Editor: Considering Walmart actually has made strides to take care of its image (and slightly boost pay for employees), it’s actually bizarre to me that the company would take this route. I get that Walmart and OUR Walmart haven’t the best history here, but this can only look poor on Walmart’s end. While the Walmart brass may or may not have a valid point regarding the gathering of personal information, the message comes off as if the company is seeking to limit discourse or any potential undesirable opinions from being shared among the masses. If this garners any more negative publicity, it wouldn’t shock me to see more retailers embrace the concept instead of running away from it. Some retailers may actually create their own app themselves to give their employees this outlet — although I’m sure that would cause concerns among employees not wanting their statements in the hands of their supervisors.
