I smell a big Wal-mart Rat!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/opinion/wal-mart-offers-jobs-to-veterans.html?_r=0

Wal-Mart Reaches Out to Veterans

Published: January 15, 2013

Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest private employer, says it plans to offer jobs to any recent veterans who want one and hire more than 100,000 of them in the next five years. Other companies should follow Wal-Mart’s lead in this welcome effort to help reduce high unemployment among those who served in recent wars.

They are not doing this from the bottom of their hearts. They are up to no good and using Vets to do it.

We all know that Wal-mart stinks to work for. I think yeah, they will hire them, but they will not let them work for full time. They will not get benefits. And god help them that try to go to school!

I smell a rat and somebody from the VA better look into this!

[NYC_SKP]

1. Walmart gets a $9,600 tax credit for every veteran they hire.

Those details should be in the article.

I presume that they can fire them after some point, or put them at part-time status.

Fuckers.

[libdem4life]

5. Work Opportunity Tax Credit ... available to every US company from the Labor Department.

I used to work for a private company who called businesses and begged them to just have their employees fill out this simple form, as we'd take a portion of the $9,600. There are even more benefits for hiring veterans, as there should be.

Too much trouble for many. But most large businesses with professional Human Resources staff has collected these funds for years. Walmart deserves every penny they get. And yes, there are definite restrictions.

http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/PDF/wotc_fact_sheet_new.pdf

[Lady Freedom Returns]

7. In the story that I linked in th post, their is another reason we can add.

Some skeptics point out that Wal-Mart’s effort is a public-relations campaign to draw attention away from a bribery scandal in its Mexican operation and an active lawsuit by female employees who claim the company discriminated against them. But a pledge to hire veterans does not reduce the company’s responsibility to get to the bottom of the corruption allegations and ensure fairness for its workers.

[libdem4life]

12. I believe, after looking through quickly, the Congress increased the Vet categories to make up for

irresponsible "Republican shutting down the Vets Employment bill. That's what happened last year, too...they added some compensation. And for certain Vets they get an extra credit after 1 year on the job.

[NYC_SKP]

13. I don't like walmart and just want the transparency.

Many businesses really do good works for the right reasons.

Others do it just to look good.

Full disclosure is all I ask.

I totally support the veterans' support programs!

[libdem4life]

14. I don't know how much more transparent one can get...it's public knowledge...it goes through the

State Employment Department. Congress has to renew it every year. In fact, spread it around to any business...simple...2 forms in the hiring packet...send it off and either you get the credits or you don't. About 2 out of 10 in some areas would qualify for some kind of credit.

[NYC_SKP]

15. I mean in terms of their self-promotion pro-vet articles.

I think the system is fine, the recent articles and posts here leave out the details about the tax credit, more often than not.

[davidpdx]

17. When I saw the article I was thinking the same thing

I've filed out forms when I've been hired to find out if the company was eligible for a tax credit.

[HiPointDem]

18. so 100,000 vets = 9.6 billion in tax credits (which can be resold, btw). what a deal.

i'd rather the government just take the 9.6 billion & put it into veterans programs. including better jobs than walmart greeter jobs.

it doesn't say anything about how long they have to keep the vet employed to collect the tax break that i noticed.

http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/job-hunting/tax-credits-for-hiring-veterans.html

[dogman]

2. Maybe this band of brothers can form a brotherhood.

Stranger things have happened. Hoping for their sake.

[tabasco]

3. Veterans readjustment money from the gubmint, perhaps? n/t

[Newsjock]

4. It's a stinkin' rat

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/15/1179248/-Wal-Mart-Sidesteps-Health-Care-PR-problem

... Wal-Mart has decided to do what they normally do. Stick the taxpayers for the bill and hope nobody notices. They've done it with Food Stamps, and numerous other benefits.

We have nearly 22 million Veterans in this country. The VA spends 2 billion a year in health care for those veterans.

According to the individual mandate, the VA counts. Every veteran that Wal-mart sticks on their payroll...

Is one more person Wal-Mart doesn't have to either pay the fine for, OR provide health care for.

[libdem4life]

6. No, it isn't. See Post #5 above.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

8. Check post seven and the article in the OP too!

They are as I said, a RAT!

[alp227]

16. Such a rat even those who obsess over the word (for DIFFERENT reasons) smell it!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2978297/posts

"This is a PR ploy to cover their ass for eliminating firearms sales in their stores."

"Thank you for your service. No you get to greet the masses at Wally World for minimum wage."

"Between this and the Bullets story, not sure what to think about Walmart anymore...

In some ways i feel they have become the “company store” for welfare recipients..."

"Wal Mart would be Ok for a person that already has living arrangements and just needs some pocket money, like grandma living with her kids, or a kid living with grandma, but a man could not earn a living wage or support a family. "

"Wal Mart has gone way too liberal in recent years....and always had been more pro Communist Chinese than pro American. I just do not believe they will follow thru....considering they just now started this even though our veterans have been underemployed for years. I suspect this is more PR than reality"

[libdem4life]

9. WOTC...Money for companies to hire people from the "entitlement programs"...what's bad about that?

Every company qualifies...the intent is to keep people off the Social Services roll and give them jobs. Exactly what is rotten about that? There are strict guidlines. Hell, it's the least we can do for Vets after the Republicans voted down their employment program. This one has been around since the early 1990s.

http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/PDF/wotc_fact_sheet_new.pdf

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION (April 2012)
UNITED STAT UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
3
eta
3. Veteran ? – a veteran who is:
• a member of a family that received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (food stamps) for at least a 3-month period during the 15-month period ending on the hiring date, or
• entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability hired within one year of discharge or release from active duty, or
• entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability and unemployed for a period or periods totaling at least 6 months of the year ending on the hiring date, or
• unemployed for at least 4 weeks (but les than 6 months) during the one year period ending on the hiring date, or
• unemployed for at least 6 months during the one year period ending on the hiring date.
Note. For additional information on the expanded veteran group and the new unemployed
categories visit: www.doleta.gov/wotc and get the Fact Sheet on the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.
4. 18-39 year-old SNAP (food stamps) recipient ? -- member of a family that received SNAP benefits (food stamps) for either the 6-month period ending on the hiring date, or for at least 3 of the 5 months ending on the hiring date in the case of a family member who ceased to be eligible for such assistance under Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977.
5. 18-39 year-old designated community resident -- individual who lives within a Rural Renewal County (RRC). ??
6. Vocational rehabilitation referral -- a person with a disability referred to the employer upon completion of or while receiving rehabilitative services from a state certified agency, an Employment Network under the Ticket-to-Work Program, or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
7. Ex-felon -- individual who was convicted of a felony and who is hired within one year after the conviction or release from prison.
8. SSI recipient -- individual who received Supplemental Security Income benefits for any month ending during the past 60-day period ending on the hiring date.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

10. Because we all know that Wal-mart is not a good company.

They are users. The Vets they will hire will be used and spit out. Thanks to the way they do people there is very little future with them. They are up to some PR tricks due to what they are pulling here and world wide.

These guys are need to be stopped. The VA needs to look close before they even think about hinting to Vets to go there.

In my opinion, this is the last straw. They have used so many and now they are targeting VT in particular. This has got to be investigated. It is time for this company to be stopped!

[libdem4life]

11. So, just curious, you'd rather they be on the public dole? Truth is they've been doing it for years

as have all large companies. It's called a Labor-Business partnership. We used to speak at Chamber of Commerce meetings.

I don't shop at WalMart and I think their stuff pretty much sucks, but IMHO, any job is better than staying home watching television. We pay way more for that option.

There were companies who specialized in hiring just ex-felons...very successful, and collected their tax credits.

[HiPointDem]

19. $9.6 billion in tax breaks says they're already on the public dole. i'd rather just have an honest

public dole (like government vets' programs & gov't jobs better than walmart greeter jobs) than give walmart tax breaks it can sell if it doesn't need them itself.

fucked-mart extracts tax concessions everywhere it operates. it IS a government dole program.

[libdem4life]

20. You can't sell tax credits. You can earn them and save them for up to 20 years.

every one is down on WalMart, and perhaps you didn't read my link plus I cut and pasted the regulations...they are on the Department of Labor website.

But as far as true Vets jobs, the shameless Repubs just batted it down. We need them in infrasturcture repair and nation building here at home. I'll agree Walmart jobs aren't great, and I'm guessing here, but I don't think they can take workers off, say Food Stamps...one of the biggest categories...and then hire them and put them back on. Pretty sure they can't double dip.

[HiPointDem]

22. yes you can. e.g:

Tax incentives may be politically expedient, but they are financially wasteful. In fact, tax credits cost Uncle Sam (and the taxpayer) twice as much as handing out cash. Why? For many clean energy projects, the developer doesn’t have enough tax liability to effectively use the 30% investment tax credit or production tax credit.

Instead, they need a “tax equity partner” (like a Wall Street banker) who can use a big tax credit. With some legal finagling, the two partners ink a deal that “monetizes” the entire federal incentive, but the Wall Street equity partner takes a hefty cut. In 2010, renewable energy developers were selling their tax credits to financiers for 30-50 cents on the dollar, with the remainder padding the pockets of financiers rather than buying down the cost of clean energy.

Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2012/01/04/federal-tax-credits-may-handcuff-clean-energy-development/#elA0U8cLSGLZ6eUl.99


What is a tax credit?

A tax credit is an economic incentive issued by a government agency to encourage the private activity, typically investments, in economic development. Such incentives can be in the form of grants, rebates, loans or tax credits. At Clocktower Tax Credits, we work with tax credits that can be sold or allocated to outside investors.

http://clocktowertc.com/faq.shtml

[libdem4life]

24. I am speaking directly to the WOTC credits which are based on employing people and accrue over a

defined period of time and under specific circumstances. I do not believe this type...the only one I know a bit about...is saleable...as it refers solely to the employee qualification (and handled only by the state employment office) and the continued employment of an individual. It is possible, that a company who has these folk employed and is selling the company can transfer their rights of tax credit to a new buyer and that would be included as a temporary asset...that I believe is correct. But just to sell them like a stock or a bond, not this type.

It is a complex program, typical government, and a company must be large enough to dedicate someone in HR or hire someone like Clocktower as an outsource, who will take 1/4 of the credit as a commission. The program is fraught with pitfalls, as it does require a kind of background check as to eligibility, and often new hires don't like to claim they have been on social services, which denies the company the credit.

A company like WalMart or any other large retailer or fast food and often medical companies routinely file for and receive the credits...perhaps 2 out of 10 new hires will qualify. Others say it's not worth the hassle. At least the government gets something back on this tax credit investment...payroll taxes, income taxes, lowering the social services costs...as opposed to energy credits or the like.

[HiPointDem]

25. wrong.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit providing incentives to employers for hiring groups facing high rates of unemployment, such as veterans, youths and others. WOTC helps these targeted groups obtain employment so they are able to gain the skills and experience necessary to obtain better future job opportunities. The WOTC is based on the number of hours an employee works and benefits the employer directly. Foss and Company has been successful in developing a structure whereby passive third-party investors may take the tax credit benefit.

http://www.fossandco.com/resources/tax-credit-programs/#work

monetization of tax credits.

[libdem4life]

26. I've been out of the biz a couple of years, so it's interesting. Do you know how they do it?

Has to be some kind of a Futures program, betting on someone's employment? But if so, you can bet that every Taco Bell, McDonald's, hospital chain corporate offices,...and the farmworker's industry...does too. I'm really interested in how they pull it off.

[AngryOldDem]

21. Heard an interview with a Wal-mart exec on NPR the other night.

It sounded to me like he sees the vets as just more disposable employees, since Wal-mart goes through so many. Ready supply of cheap labor.

I'm not applauding Wal-mart, because this is a shameless PR stunt and everyone knows how Wal-mart treats its employees.

[Javaman]

23. So does that mean wallyworld will treat them like their current employees?

lower than standard wages? part time only? fail to pay them overtime? crappy healthcare policy? and the need for the employees to be on medi-aid?

[Brickbat]

27. Some companies like hiring veterans because they follow orders and put up with just about anything

without complaining. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the employer, the nature of the work, and whether you are a manager, co-worker or organizer.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

33. yeah. n/t

[OneMoreDemocrat]

28. Eh, doesn't your knee get tired from all of the jerking it has to do...

Until YOU can do something to employ Veterans maybe you should be happy that someone is doing SOMETHING besides sniping from behind their keyboard.

Good for Walmart, good for Veterans.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

32. Wal=mart is going to use those retuning Vet and then leave them with nothing.

There are many programs via the VA that one can not use if working, no mater how little you make. These programs are to help both new and old Vets.

Now we all know that Wa-mart does not give people true living wages. I have spent many a time with active employees of Wal-mart in shelters.

They are out to use these in coming Vets and then leave them in a mess. That needs to be investigated.

P.S I know a bit about the VA due to my husband.

Good for Wal-mart, BAD BAD BAD for Vets!

[markpkessinger]

29. Wal-Mart seems to be on a major PR rehab campaign...

...I saw a television commercial today in which Wal-Mart pats itself on the back for its efforts to "stamp out hunger." Rather ironic choice of words, given that so many of its employees are paid so little they must rely on food stamps!

[pinboy3niner]

31. Ironically, W-M donates to our foodbank and to our outreach to homeless and needy vets

While treating their employees like shit, which is one of the things that keeps them so profitable, their charitable giving gains them good PR.

Being heavily involved in my community's volunteer projects, we're always happy for any support we can get.

At the same time, I've protested against Wal-Mart with my local Occupy groups.

[SoCalDem]

30. $9k divided by 52 weeks =$173.08 per week subsidized

$10 x 30 hrs per week is $300 PRE-TAX...if Uncle Sam is crediting walmart $173.08, they are only "paying" $4.23 an hour..


not a bad deal for wallyworld.

and especially when they can market those vets in their advertising to counteract some of their bad press..