How would you suggest challenging it? Walk into the store and when confronted ask to see the manager and tell them that Wal-Mart doesn't have a policy against going barefoot in their store and that it would create a conflict with their diversity and inclusion policy? Or contact Wal-Mart in the hope they will contact my local store and have them remove the sign?Not endorsed by corporate. If you challenge the sign, it will come down.
Walmart and Sams Club are barefoot friendly at the corporate level.
Basically, the only true part is that Corporate does not have a shoe rule?Many people have a problem with this method because it involves invoking a few "white lies", and that goes against the ethics and morals we are taught. I justify it because: Corporate DOES NOT have a shoe rule, the manager is un-informed of that, now he is informed. The inclusion of the made-up stuff makes the challenge more effective, and since we know that it is better for us to shop barefoot and that corporate agrees with the plan the ends justify the means. (In my opinion, obviously not everybody agrees with this whether for religious or moral reasons) .
I've however boosted my success record tremendously by including white lies that are based on truth but much easier for the shoe police to understand.
Basically, the only true part is that Corporate does not have a shoe rule?
I feel it now clear that I have lost my battle against the management of the golf course as they haven't replied to me since last time. I am however, extremely happy to announce that I have received email confirmation from another local golf course, that despite the fact they don't advise going barefoot as it is not "safe", I am allowed to play golf barefoot at their club. Oh, and I just want to mention this is the club that has the most strict (or is it strictest?) dress code around. I'm very happy right now!
Jimmy John's - a sign by the register "We would love to see you NAKED, but state code requires shoes and shirts". Manager looked down at my feet as I was leaving and said have a nice day.
A meeting about you being barefoot? Talk about a wonderful way to waste everybody's time.school is trying to suddenly tell me that after a year walking around bf i''m a liability. i sent them a nice long reply. have yet to hear from them but i know they had a meeting about me.
Go in barefoot. When a lower level associate informs you of the shoe rule tell them that they are incorrect, and that corporate does not approve of the sign. Tell them a quick check with the regional/district manager will confirm this. Continue shopping and if they stop you again demand to see the manager on duty. Hopefully it won't be an assistant, but the real deal. Introduce yourself using your full name, shake their hand, look them in the eye and NON-CONFRONTATIONALY say " I'm surprised you still have that sign on the door! It was the decision of Walmart's chief legal counsel that due to conflicts with the Americans with Disabilities Act, religious freedom concerns, and some stores in the rural South where customers were habitually barefoot that ALL Walmart stores world wide would be friendly to barefoot customers regardless of the reason for their bare feet. Check with corporate, they will explain it to you in greater detail. Nice meeting you" Shake their hand and say" If you have any more questions feel free to contact me, would you like my email address?"
Many people have a problem with this method because it involves invoking a few "white lies", and that goes against the ethics and morals we are taught. I justify it because: Corporate DOES NOT have a shoe rule, the manager is un-informed of that, now he is informed. The inclusion of the made-up stuff makes the challenge more effective, and since we know that it is better for us to shop barefoot and that corporate agrees with the plan the ends justify the means. (In my opinion, obviously not everybody agrees with this whether for religious or moral reasons) .
I've however boosted my success record tremendously by including white lies that are based on truth but much easier for the shoe police to understand.
I look her in the eye, gave her a big smile, and said in a very nice voice, "Its ok, I have every right to do this."
Alternately, you could just write to the store manager stating the same information, and maybe include "other stores will accept my money and dont care about my footwear.I will take my business elsewhere if this Wal-Mart store chooses to set policy about my personal appearance."
http://corporate.walmart.com/global-responsibility/diversity-inclusion/
Interesting.
The feeling I've always had whenever I've set foot in a Wal-Mart is that they could care less about what individual customers think, especially when it comes to customer service. I wish anyone a healthy dose of luck if they have to take matters to the level of writing a letter that threatens to take one's business elsewhere. My intuition tells me Wal-Mart cares about their bottom line, and that's about it. Hell, just talk to one of the lower echelon staff members that haven't been brainwashed by the corporate rigmarole yet and ask them how great it is working for the company.
Here's an interesting fact sheet: http://edit.aflcio.org/Corporate-Watch/Paywatch-2014
I only trust statistics so much, so I take those numbers with a grain of salt, but, it's interesting nonetheless.
Anyway, just my two cents. This whole thread irks me because I personally feel that corporate greed and subsequent social policy has sort of driven these inhibitory policies such as not being allowed to be comfortably barefoot in a good number of places.
In my mind, it is living in disharmony with the natural way of things. Here we have these bad-ass evolved feet, that, with the full use of such, we are able to enjoy a lengthy span of foot and leg health, but, we are denied this basic right in most places, and the ubiquitous use of shoes seems to just further contribute to all these various ailments of the legs, feet and hips that many people start to find later in their lives; I attribute this mainly due to growing up in a culture that has purposely perpetuated the use of poorly designed footwear and people not knowing any better.
Okay... I'm gonna stop writing now.
Your opinion is interesting. You present facts but then interpret them in an odd way. (1) if Wal-Mart only cares about profits, why would they care about bare feet? (2) if Wal-Mart doesn't care about customer service, complaints of bare feet shouldn't matter.
I have had great success with Wal-Mart being barefoot and with my family barefoot as well.
While the company may or may not care if one individual chooses to shop elsewhere, there are large enough to care about lawsuits. Should they adopt a policy that discriminates against any person or group, it could become quite costly, quite quickly.