Letter to the Editor: The New York Times "The Corporate Daddy"

RE: “The Corporate Daddy” (op-ed June 20): 

I completely disagree with many of the author’s arguments, and Walmart addresses the factual errors on our website. I want to focus on this statement - 'working at Walmart may not make you poor, but it certainly keeps you poor…'

I can tell you firsthand that this is not true.  I started seven years ago as a part-time sales associate and became the first in my family to go to college, thanks to a Walmart scholarship. I’m now getting ready to lead my own multi-million dollar store.  The reality is that Walmart offers opportunity – a ladder up in life.  And it’s not just me.  Here are some facts: Walmart has 15,000-50,000 job openings on any given day and no special background is required. We promote 170,000 people each year and 40% of those promotions go to people in their first year with the company.  75% of our store management teams started as hourly associates, and it may surprise you to learn they earn $50,000 - $250,000 a year. You can think of it like this: it’s easy to get in, it’s easy to move up, and then the sky’s the limit.  If we had space, I could introduce you to hundreds of thousands of hard-working Americans who are building better lives for their families every day at Walmart.