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Walmart: Diary of an Associate
In 2012, journalist Hugo Meunier went undercover as a Walmart employee for three months in St. Leonard, Quebec, just north of Montreal.
In great detail, Meunier charts the daily life of an impoverished Walmart worker, referring to his shifts at the box store giant as "somewhere between the army and Walt Disney." Each shift began with a daily chant before bowing to customer demands and the constant pressure to sell. Meanwhile Meunier and his fellow workers could not afford to shop anywhere else but Walmart, further indenturing them to the multi-billion-dollar corporation.
Beyond his time on the shop floor, Meunier documents the extraordinary efforts that Walmart exerts to block unionization campaigns, including their 2005 decision to close their outlet in Jonquiere, QC, where the United Food and Commercial Workers union had successfully gained certification rights. A decade later he charts the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that exposed the dubious legal ground on which Walmart stood in invoking closure and throwing workers out on the street.
In Walmart: Diary of an Associate, Meunier reveals the truths behind Walmart's low prices; it will make you think twice before shopping there.
In great detail, Meunier charts the daily life of an impoverished Walmart worker, referring to his shifts at the box store giant as "somewhere between the army and Walt Disney." Each shift began with a daily chant before bowing to customer demands and the constant pressure to sell. Meanwhile Meunier and his fellow workers could not afford to shop anywhere else but Walmart, further indenturing them to the multi-billion-dollar corporation.
Beyond his time on the shop floor, Meunier documents the extraordinary efforts that Walmart exerts to block unionization campaigns, including their 2005 decision to close their outlet in Jonquiere, QC, where the United Food and Commercial Workers union had successfully gained certification rights. A decade later he charts the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that exposed the dubious legal ground on which Walmart stood in invoking closure and throwing workers out on the street.
In Walmart: Diary of an Associate, Meunier reveals the truths behind Walmart's low prices; it will make you think twice before shopping there.
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2015
15 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 26, 2020
Walmart: Diary of an Associate by Hugo Meunier is the accounting of a journalist’s undercover work at the retail giant. Meunier spent three months as an associate and gives the reader an insider’s look at life indentured to a corporate giant who will stop at nothing to sell, sell, sell. The employees are treated as a means to an end. From the first day, each associate is reminded that the customer is king, which you may say is how customer service works. But all Walmart wants to do is make the next sale. They have little regard for the underpaid staff who will be kept in poverty because of low pay, short shifts, no benefits, etc. What frightens Walmart the most is the threat of an organized labour union because the employees would have the protection of such an organization and the company would no longer be able to take advantage of the employees who have no other option but to work for Walmart. In Quebec, one store was able to bring in a union, and Walmart closed the store down, using them as an example to scare other stores. Most of us shop at Walmart at some point but, after reading this book, I will have a bad taste in my mouth.
June 26, 2019
Meh. While this was a fairly accurate look at what a Wal-Mart employee’s life is like, as a former one myself, I see the gaps. I also didn’t care for his tone in a few places. It’s no Nickel and Dimed. What we need is a book by an actual associate, one who is working there because they need to, not as an experiment. We’d lose the often pretentious, better than thou tones then.
July 29, 2025
J’ai bien aimé ce livre dans lequel Hugo Meunier devient un employé du Walmart pendant trois mois. On n’y apprend rien de vraiment surprenant, mais j’ai trouvé cela intéressant à lire, n’ayant jamais eu ce genre d’emploi.
On ne peut qu’espérer que les choses se sont un peu améliorées en 10 ans… c’est certain que ça ne donne pas envie d’aller y magasiner en courant. J’ai apprécié que tout au long de son expérience, il n’est jamais méprisant envers les employés ou les cadres. Et belles touches d’humour.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ : Bien aimé
On ne peut qu’espérer que les choses se sont un peu améliorées en 10 ans… c’est certain que ça ne donne pas envie d’aller y magasiner en courant. J’ai apprécié que tout au long de son expérience, il n’est jamais méprisant envers les employés ou les cadres. Et belles touches d’humour.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ : Bien aimé
April 3, 2015
Un récit vraiment bien écrit où la candeur côtoie toujours la lucidité de près. Une plume agréable qui laisse transparaître le côté comique et geek de l'auteur.
Mais un récit qui nous rappelle également l'indécence de l'empire Walmart qui se nourrit de la pauvreté et de la précarité pour asseoir son influence à la fois sur sa clientèle cible et sur ses employé.e.s. Je suis toujours révoltée quand je lis sur la méga-chaîne et on ne rappellera jamais assez les espèces de chants de motivation le matin pour détecter les employé.e.s plus résistants, les discours indécents des patrons qui déplorent devant des employé.e.s à statut précaire qui gagnent un salaire de misère que leur succursale n'a fait "QUE" 207 000$ de profits la veille, les patrons qui découragent d'entrée de jeu les employé.e.s qui auraient des accidents de travail de contacter la CSST parce que ça grugerait la marge de profits de l'entreprise.
Je retiens un passage particulier où l'auteur rencontre l'un des instigateurs de la démarche de syndicalisation pour le Walmart de Jonquière qui s'est battu pendant des années devant les tribunaux suite à la fermeture:
"Pour lui, un travail d'éducation populaire doit être réalisé avant d'espérer à nouveau faire un syndicat chez Walmart. Les stationnements continuellement pleins devant les magasins Walmart le lui rappellent sans cesse. «Il y a un manque de solidarité chez les consommateurs. Les gens doivent se poser des questions. À un certain moment, je me suis mis à détester mon peuple, parce que je ne l'avais pas derrière moi.»" p. 148
Après cette expérience, l'auteur affirme que ça aura été la dernière fois de sa vie qu'il aura mis un pied dans un Walmart. Je le remercie.
Mais un récit qui nous rappelle également l'indécence de l'empire Walmart qui se nourrit de la pauvreté et de la précarité pour asseoir son influence à la fois sur sa clientèle cible et sur ses employé.e.s. Je suis toujours révoltée quand je lis sur la méga-chaîne et on ne rappellera jamais assez les espèces de chants de motivation le matin pour détecter les employé.e.s plus résistants, les discours indécents des patrons qui déplorent devant des employé.e.s à statut précaire qui gagnent un salaire de misère que leur succursale n'a fait "QUE" 207 000$ de profits la veille, les patrons qui découragent d'entrée de jeu les employé.e.s qui auraient des accidents de travail de contacter la CSST parce que ça grugerait la marge de profits de l'entreprise.
Je retiens un passage particulier où l'auteur rencontre l'un des instigateurs de la démarche de syndicalisation pour le Walmart de Jonquière qui s'est battu pendant des années devant les tribunaux suite à la fermeture:
"Pour lui, un travail d'éducation populaire doit être réalisé avant d'espérer à nouveau faire un syndicat chez Walmart. Les stationnements continuellement pleins devant les magasins Walmart le lui rappellent sans cesse. «Il y a un manque de solidarité chez les consommateurs. Les gens doivent se poser des questions. À un certain moment, je me suis mis à détester mon peuple, parce que je ne l'avais pas derrière moi.»" p. 148
Après cette expérience, l'auteur affirme que ça aura été la dernière fois de sa vie qu'il aura mis un pied dans un Walmart. Je le remercie.
June 21, 2019
In 2012 Canadian investigative journalist went undercover in a Walmart store to expose just how awful the company is etc. etc. There’s nothing new or revelatory here, as we are all far too familiar with big corporations abusing their workers and paying them peanuts. In fact, I don’t think Walmart came out of this particularly badly compared to other companies. Sadly, it has now become the norm. But those low prices are pretty irresistible and nothing is going to change unless consumers boycott en masse. Which I don’t see happening. So all I learnt from this rather supercilious and repetitious account is that Walmart is evil and that Meunier is good for exposing this – and that he’s also rather arrogant and far too good for the daily grind of those less well-off, less educated, and less intelligent than he is.
March 1, 2023
Ouvrage intéressant où Hugo Meunier s’infiltre dans un Walmart en tant qu’associé pendant une période de 3 mois. Il en profite pour aller voir les pratiques de ce monstre du capitalisme au Mexique et à Jonquière.
À travers cet essai, on découvre que Walmart est capable de taire certaines choses et que plusieurs pratiques sont souvent non-conformes aux normes du travail. Par exemple, un accident CNESST est très mal vu par le géant américain. Plusieurs moments ont étés choquants, puisque j’ai longtemps cru que Walmart était un bel endroit pour travailler. Malheureusement, je constate que ce n’est pas le cas et ça ne me donne clairement pas envie d’y remettre les pieds, en solidarité avec tous ces associés qui sont payés trop peu.
4 ⭐️
À travers cet essai, on découvre que Walmart est capable de taire certaines choses et que plusieurs pratiques sont souvent non-conformes aux normes du travail. Par exemple, un accident CNESST est très mal vu par le géant américain. Plusieurs moments ont étés choquants, puisque j’ai longtemps cru que Walmart était un bel endroit pour travailler. Malheureusement, je constate que ce n’est pas le cas et ça ne me donne clairement pas envie d’y remettre les pieds, en solidarité avec tous ces associés qui sont payés trop peu.
4 ⭐️
April 30, 2015
J'ai bien aimé le livre, assez pour le lire dans un après-midi. Je vis sur la Côte-Nord du Québec et Walmart est le seul magasin à rayon de la région.
Je n'y fais pas mon épicerie, mais il est vrai que le papier cul et le savon sont les moins chers.
Je me demande bien si son livre est en vente dans les Walmarts...
Je n'y fais pas mon épicerie, mais il est vrai que le papier cul et le savon sont les moins chers.
Je me demande bien si son livre est en vente dans les Walmarts...
December 31, 2022
Un journaliste avec une plume humoristique par bout, qui infiltre Wal-Mart afin de comprendre " C'est quoi dépendre du Wal-Mart en tant qu'associé ? " Des salaires à peine plus haut que le salaire minimum, des menaces afin que les employés ne parle de syndicat ou qu'ils ne déclarent pas un accident de travail à CNESST afin de ne pas voir fondre leur bonus annuel... Par l'entremise d'Hugo on s'attache à de ses collègues qui tire le diable par la queue pour arriver avec leur maigre salaire. Wal-Mart travaille pour son profit. Assez intéressant pour vous dégoûter de ces grandes surfaces.
May 31, 2015
Si vous faites des achats chez Walmart, vous devriez lire ce livre. Les épargnes que vous faites ont un coût - souvent humain.
Si vous ne faites pas d'achats chez Walmart, vous devriez quand même lire ce livre.
Si vous ne faites pas d'achats chez Walmart, vous devriez quand même lire ce livre.
December 27, 2019
Hugo Meunier informs us that he is an ‘immersion journalist.’ This means – more or less – that in the event you are either a celebrity and/or a celebrity who is getting married, watch out for a mobile toting serious faced, tuxedoed individual (in this case, a man) who is not only trying his best to act serious behind a pair of cool looking shades, but is also trying to fool the security guards into gate-crashing the wedding. By the way, his tuxedo is invariably, rented.
Meunier in the introduction to his book, “Diary Of An Associate” confesses that he likes field reporting. He also educates us – with what reads like more than just a dollop of pretentiousness – that he leaves ‘mundanities’ such as the Lance Armstrong doping debacle to the reporting preserve of others. His preference is more towards the kid from Boucherville and the PointeCalumet beach who shoots steroids for seemingly no apparent reason. With the same element of impetuousness, he also provides us with a sample of illustrious events which he has successfully proceeded to invade – Justin Trudeau’s wedding and a party organized by Guy Laliberte, the ‘top dog’ of Cirque du solei, where the excesses were so exacerbated that international model Naomi Campbell and seven time Formula One Racing Champion Michael Schumacher, nonchalantly engaged in a conversation paying barely a hint of attention to two stark naked women acrobats perched next to them. As Meunier goes on to further amplify his prerogatives – “the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the famine in Niger, and the war in Iraq would have to wait.” A singularly stellar example of how best to prioritise alternatives in the order of their vitality and importance!
So it did not come as a complete surprise to his boss, Katie at La Presse, when Meunier proposed covertly immersing himself as a Walmart ‘Associate’ for a period of three months at store 3094 in the Saint-Leonard neighbourhood of Montreal. The reason for such an intrusion? A penchant to “live Walmart. To feel it, see it, rub shoulders with its customers, its bosses; to experience it physically and psychologically; to witness this reality; this is essentially what motivated my project.” Wow! Sounds great from a social, rational, metaphysical, cosmological and even an anthropological perspective! The ghost of Sam Walton would be shedding unconstrained tears of experiential bliss!
Muneir also takes the pain to educate us about a few jaw dropping facets that makes Walmart. “Since the 1990s, Walmart revenues represent 2.5% of America’s Gross National Product (“GNP”); according to Nelson Lichtenstein and Susan Strasser, Walmart’s success marked the end of the domination of American economy’s industrial sector; Gilles Biassette and Lysiane J. Baudu argue that ‘Walmartization’ of America consists of a conversion to an economic model based on importation, distribution and optimization of logistics chain, more than the industrial and manufacturing excellence that General Motors long symbolized.”
Great! Now that we have armed ourselves with information more than adequate, sufficient and relevant for 3 months of undercover employment, let us rub our hands with unfettered glee and begin without much ado! Time to do the hard yards.
What follows however is a repetitive description that has at its core a never ending shifting of pallets, an interminable stocking – and restocking of – shelves, punctuated by lines of slapstick humour and funny analogies. Yes, the famous Walmart pep talk does exist as does a highly confidential internal document unimaginatively titled, “A Manager’s Toolbox to Remaining Union Free.” Walmart’s allergy towards the act of Unionization is a phenomenon well known and absorbed across the globe. Unionization to the retailer is what the rays of the sun are to a vampire. Yes, the salaries are Walmart are so abysmal that at $11.05 per hour, a $1 signing bonus, the entry level pay translates to a meagre and abominable annual income of around $18,000. Bill Quinn’s “How Walmart is Destroying America (and the World) and What You can do about it” provides the whole ghastly lowdown about the pay (or the lack of it) at Walmart.
As is the case with any, or at least, many of the supermarkets, Walmart also has its share of abusive customers, who have an issue with looks, race, intelligence, stupidity, empty shelves, re-order levels of stock and most importantly, sealed and unopened products stacked upon racks. “A young woman came up to ask, very seriously if the five-by-eight-foot patterned carpet on sale for $30 would look nice in her dining room. “Difficult to help you madame, as I have never been to your place,” I candidly replied…….”I should really unroll one of them!” she finally cried, in a quasi-trance. Without waiting for my answer, she seized a carpet, ripped off the packaging with the enthusiasm of a child recognizing Lego through wrapping paper, handed one end to me and backed down the aisle to unroll it.”
The incredulous comparison of revenues generated every day with the revenues generated on the same day a year ago, the even more incredulous commuting habits of associates who leave home at 3.00 A.M to keep both their jobs and the timing of the bus, makes for some poignant, albeit expected reading. Allegiance to the three uncompromising maxims of Respect for the Individual, Service to the Customer and Striving for excellence is a given and this principle is absolutely non-negotiable. As is the famous “three meter” rule: the associate must smile at all times and when a customer is within three meters, the associate must greet the customer, ask if they need help, and if necessary, escort them to the products.”A description of the Crystal Bridge Museum inaugurated in Bentonville, the Headquarters of the behemoth in 2012 courtesy Sam Walton’s eccentric daughter Alice also gets a mention by Meunier.
Meunier wax eloquent and witty on his shifts and schedules, on his colleagues’ shifts and schedules and on the physically taxing nature of such shifts and schedules, when he is not calling the swathe of customers, Walking Dead that is. The only part of the book that makes for some seriously interesting reading deals with the harrowing experiences of two former Walmart employees, Patrice Bergeron and Gaetan Plourde who succeeded in unionizing the Walmart Store in Jonquiere before a scathingly swift response from Walmart led to the closing of the store.
Finally, we are all euphoric to know that Meunier donated the total sum of $4150 net earned at Walmart during his three months of infiltration to two Montreal organisations. (Applause).
While you would not regret reading “Diary of an Associate”, you would not repent not having had an opportunity to digest it either.
Meunier in the introduction to his book, “Diary Of An Associate” confesses that he likes field reporting. He also educates us – with what reads like more than just a dollop of pretentiousness – that he leaves ‘mundanities’ such as the Lance Armstrong doping debacle to the reporting preserve of others. His preference is more towards the kid from Boucherville and the PointeCalumet beach who shoots steroids for seemingly no apparent reason. With the same element of impetuousness, he also provides us with a sample of illustrious events which he has successfully proceeded to invade – Justin Trudeau’s wedding and a party organized by Guy Laliberte, the ‘top dog’ of Cirque du solei, where the excesses were so exacerbated that international model Naomi Campbell and seven time Formula One Racing Champion Michael Schumacher, nonchalantly engaged in a conversation paying barely a hint of attention to two stark naked women acrobats perched next to them. As Meunier goes on to further amplify his prerogatives – “the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the famine in Niger, and the war in Iraq would have to wait.” A singularly stellar example of how best to prioritise alternatives in the order of their vitality and importance!
So it did not come as a complete surprise to his boss, Katie at La Presse, when Meunier proposed covertly immersing himself as a Walmart ‘Associate’ for a period of three months at store 3094 in the Saint-Leonard neighbourhood of Montreal. The reason for such an intrusion? A penchant to “live Walmart. To feel it, see it, rub shoulders with its customers, its bosses; to experience it physically and psychologically; to witness this reality; this is essentially what motivated my project.” Wow! Sounds great from a social, rational, metaphysical, cosmological and even an anthropological perspective! The ghost of Sam Walton would be shedding unconstrained tears of experiential bliss!
Muneir also takes the pain to educate us about a few jaw dropping facets that makes Walmart. “Since the 1990s, Walmart revenues represent 2.5% of America’s Gross National Product (“GNP”); according to Nelson Lichtenstein and Susan Strasser, Walmart’s success marked the end of the domination of American economy’s industrial sector; Gilles Biassette and Lysiane J. Baudu argue that ‘Walmartization’ of America consists of a conversion to an economic model based on importation, distribution and optimization of logistics chain, more than the industrial and manufacturing excellence that General Motors long symbolized.”
Great! Now that we have armed ourselves with information more than adequate, sufficient and relevant for 3 months of undercover employment, let us rub our hands with unfettered glee and begin without much ado! Time to do the hard yards.
What follows however is a repetitive description that has at its core a never ending shifting of pallets, an interminable stocking – and restocking of – shelves, punctuated by lines of slapstick humour and funny analogies. Yes, the famous Walmart pep talk does exist as does a highly confidential internal document unimaginatively titled, “A Manager’s Toolbox to Remaining Union Free.” Walmart’s allergy towards the act of Unionization is a phenomenon well known and absorbed across the globe. Unionization to the retailer is what the rays of the sun are to a vampire. Yes, the salaries are Walmart are so abysmal that at $11.05 per hour, a $1 signing bonus, the entry level pay translates to a meagre and abominable annual income of around $18,000. Bill Quinn’s “How Walmart is Destroying America (and the World) and What You can do about it” provides the whole ghastly lowdown about the pay (or the lack of it) at Walmart.
As is the case with any, or at least, many of the supermarkets, Walmart also has its share of abusive customers, who have an issue with looks, race, intelligence, stupidity, empty shelves, re-order levels of stock and most importantly, sealed and unopened products stacked upon racks. “A young woman came up to ask, very seriously if the five-by-eight-foot patterned carpet on sale for $30 would look nice in her dining room. “Difficult to help you madame, as I have never been to your place,” I candidly replied…….”I should really unroll one of them!” she finally cried, in a quasi-trance. Without waiting for my answer, she seized a carpet, ripped off the packaging with the enthusiasm of a child recognizing Lego through wrapping paper, handed one end to me and backed down the aisle to unroll it.”
The incredulous comparison of revenues generated every day with the revenues generated on the same day a year ago, the even more incredulous commuting habits of associates who leave home at 3.00 A.M to keep both their jobs and the timing of the bus, makes for some poignant, albeit expected reading. Allegiance to the three uncompromising maxims of Respect for the Individual, Service to the Customer and Striving for excellence is a given and this principle is absolutely non-negotiable. As is the famous “three meter” rule: the associate must smile at all times and when a customer is within three meters, the associate must greet the customer, ask if they need help, and if necessary, escort them to the products.”A description of the Crystal Bridge Museum inaugurated in Bentonville, the Headquarters of the behemoth in 2012 courtesy Sam Walton’s eccentric daughter Alice also gets a mention by Meunier.
Meunier wax eloquent and witty on his shifts and schedules, on his colleagues’ shifts and schedules and on the physically taxing nature of such shifts and schedules, when he is not calling the swathe of customers, Walking Dead that is. The only part of the book that makes for some seriously interesting reading deals with the harrowing experiences of two former Walmart employees, Patrice Bergeron and Gaetan Plourde who succeeded in unionizing the Walmart Store in Jonquiere before a scathingly swift response from Walmart led to the closing of the store.
Finally, we are all euphoric to know that Meunier donated the total sum of $4150 net earned at Walmart during his three months of infiltration to two Montreal organisations. (Applause).
While you would not regret reading “Diary of an Associate”, you would not repent not having had an opportunity to digest it either.
August 2, 2025
J’aime bien la maison d’édition Lux, par sa mission sociale. Beaucoup de réflexions sont suscitées sur notre identité & sur nos façons de faire / façon d’être comme individu et comme peuple.
Le tout est vrai avec cette lecture. Rien d’extravagant, mais une belle réflexion en découle. Belle plume également. Bref, je risque de lire les autres ouvrages d’Hugo Mercier & de porter une attention particulière à la maison d’édition!
Le tout est vrai avec cette lecture. Rien d’extravagant, mais une belle réflexion en découle. Belle plume également. Bref, je risque de lire les autres ouvrages d’Hugo Mercier & de porter une attention particulière à la maison d’édition!
August 6, 2025
Enquête sociale sur les impacts du modèle de Walmart sur ses employés / associés. Lecture légère et courte.
February 6, 2024
Cetait interessant, drôle et ça ouvre à une realité difficile!
September 21, 2019
Très bel exercice d’immersion et d’empathie que nous propose Hugo Meunier, d’une plume vive et comique qui reflète bien l’absurdité de l’idéologie Walmart. Mais on a parfois l’impression qu’un long reportage aurait été mieux adapté; le format livre rend le récit un peu long, et parfois même ennuyant.
July 25, 2025
On dirait que j’ai pu le gout du tout de rentrer dans un Walmart.
May 13, 2019
I have to say, this is the first French-Language book I have read since high school- and the first I have ever read for my own leisure! While certain phrases I didn’t understand, I understood the majority of what Meunier was saying, and was able to really get into this book!
As for my actual opinion: I thought the premise of this book was very interesting, albeit a little questionable. It was really interesting how Meunier combined his own personal experiences with the history of Walmart’s origins, along with the major unionization scandal of Walmart in Jonquiere. He purports the idea that Walmart’s original ideology of helping people and building a community starkly contrasts with the profit-driven and exploitative nature of the current corporation. Notable are some anecdotes about his struggling co-workers, including a woman who spends the majority of paycheques on taxis because she has to drive her children to her mother’s house in the middle of the night before her practically crack-of-dawn shift. Stories like these demonstrate the harsh living conditions of employees, and inflexibility of the management.
Yet, at the same time, Hugo contradicts himself throughout this book. He argues that the management at wal mart does not focus on human rights, however, they had been very kind and accommodating to him during his stay. He blatantly lied about having a sick mother-in-law in Western Canada, whom he needed to visit for a week, yet he was jetting off on a trip to Mexico (albeit for La Presse coverage, but still!) Yet the management was empathetic to him and allowed him the week. I also found Hugo to be overly whiney about his work, meanwhile he admired that the physical labour made him lose weight. I think the biggest issue I had with this book was that Hugo constantly whined and complained about his tasks at Wal Mart, yet he is coming from a place of privilege, where he was the luxury of stepping in and out of this lifestyle. In the last two pages of the book, he gets overly preachy on how we as a society are separated from one another, and we need to place ourselves in others’ shoes...etc. But I find this comes off as holier-than-thou, as if to say “Wow, your life is shit, glad I’m not in your same boat!” Even though this is a notable issue, I still found this book to be very interesting and entertaining to read. Meunier is a talented journalist and has creative ideas. I would give this book a 3.5/5,
As for my actual opinion: I thought the premise of this book was very interesting, albeit a little questionable. It was really interesting how Meunier combined his own personal experiences with the history of Walmart’s origins, along with the major unionization scandal of Walmart in Jonquiere. He purports the idea that Walmart’s original ideology of helping people and building a community starkly contrasts with the profit-driven and exploitative nature of the current corporation. Notable are some anecdotes about his struggling co-workers, including a woman who spends the majority of paycheques on taxis because she has to drive her children to her mother’s house in the middle of the night before her practically crack-of-dawn shift. Stories like these demonstrate the harsh living conditions of employees, and inflexibility of the management.
Yet, at the same time, Hugo contradicts himself throughout this book. He argues that the management at wal mart does not focus on human rights, however, they had been very kind and accommodating to him during his stay. He blatantly lied about having a sick mother-in-law in Western Canada, whom he needed to visit for a week, yet he was jetting off on a trip to Mexico (albeit for La Presse coverage, but still!) Yet the management was empathetic to him and allowed him the week. I also found Hugo to be overly whiney about his work, meanwhile he admired that the physical labour made him lose weight. I think the biggest issue I had with this book was that Hugo constantly whined and complained about his tasks at Wal Mart, yet he is coming from a place of privilege, where he was the luxury of stepping in and out of this lifestyle. In the last two pages of the book, he gets overly preachy on how we as a society are separated from one another, and we need to place ourselves in others’ shoes...etc. But I find this comes off as holier-than-thou, as if to say “Wow, your life is shit, glad I’m not in your same boat!” Even though this is a notable issue, I still found this book to be very interesting and entertaining to read. Meunier is a talented journalist and has creative ideas. I would give this book a 3.5/5,
March 1, 2019
The author, an immersive journalist, describes his experience working in a Canadian Walmart in Walmart: Diary of an Associate.
It is amazing how Walmart treats its associates like slow children. Rules are drummed into their heads, daily exercises and pep talks are given, and they are monitored extensively. If indoctrination into the Walmart “family” doesn’t motivate sufficiently, then hopefully, the annual April bonus will. And if not, there are plenty of desperately poor people willing to work hard for minimum wage pay.
Everyone who is thinking about applying for a Walmart job should read this book first. While some of the practices are familiar from other sources, I found many new scenarios within the book too. 3 stars.
Note: I read that US Walmart local route truck drivers start at $87,000 per year. Obviously, a trip to a truck driving school may be worth paying back student loans over 20 years compared to minimum wage and annual raises of less than a dollar.
Thanks to Fernwood Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
It is amazing how Walmart treats its associates like slow children. Rules are drummed into their heads, daily exercises and pep talks are given, and they are monitored extensively. If indoctrination into the Walmart “family” doesn’t motivate sufficiently, then hopefully, the annual April bonus will. And if not, there are plenty of desperately poor people willing to work hard for minimum wage pay.
Everyone who is thinking about applying for a Walmart job should read this book first. While some of the practices are familiar from other sources, I found many new scenarios within the book too. 3 stars.
Note: I read that US Walmart local route truck drivers start at $87,000 per year. Obviously, a trip to a truck driving school may be worth paying back student loans over 20 years compared to minimum wage and annual raises of less than a dollar.
Thanks to Fernwood Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2020
While it was interesting content and gave a better view at for example how far multi-bilion-companies like Walmart are willing to go for profits and blocking unions, and the pyschological ware-fare their empolyees are under , i think a journalist who in the end knows he can go back to a well paying job might not be the person to write this book.
I would have liked more reflection on his own position. I also dindt like the whole a-political 'we all have to live in each others shoes and thats why i did this but not because i actually want to change something' story in the epilogue. Poverty and bad work-conditions are not a fun social-experiment and should not have been treated as such. I would have had more sympathy if he actually ended up making it more political even if this was not his intention.
The research is good the reason for the research not so much.
I would have liked more reflection on his own position. I also dindt like the whole a-political 'we all have to live in each others shoes and thats why i did this but not because i actually want to change something' story in the epilogue. Poverty and bad work-conditions are not a fun social-experiment and should not have been treated as such. I would have had more sympathy if he actually ended up making it more political even if this was not his intention.
The research is good the reason for the research not so much.
February 18, 2016
Déjà pas un grand fan de Walmart, je crois bien que ce livre m'en a dégoûté à jamais. Belle présentation d'un journaliste infiltré dans la compagnie et qui démontre à quel poitn cette compagnie abuse, méprise et fait son argent sur le dos d'une population pauvre et souvent peu éduquée (clients et employés) en utilisant des stratégies louches et douteuses qui poussent à consommer des objets de faibles qualités. Le capitalisme dans sa plus grande déchéance. Je vous encourage sincèrement à faire vos achats dans un autre magasin!!
June 8, 2019
This was interesting to read as an ex-Walmart Cashier, especially since some of the speeches given by managers as tools of “encouragement” sounded so eerily familiar. I admit I couldn’t help but laugh at some of our mutual frustrations such as the training modules and the Walmart chant. However, I was pretty surprised by some of the things he found out as well. For example, the details of the closing of the Jonquiére store and the holding hostage of the Christmas bonuses in exchange for “good behaviour”. Fascinating to get the perspective of an outside person.
May 1, 2020
I'd like to avoid the cliche of using the word privileged and shame the author for not being poor, but this book is full of it. He just doesn't belong at Walmart, doesn't really make an effort and it shows. His tone is of superiority and won't miss a chance to remind us he could have been at his office...or at his chalet with family and friends. The jokes are not funny and I don't like people playing at being poor.
Stopping at around 30%.
Stopping at around 30%.
April 19, 2023
📖 Wᴀʟᴍᴀʀᴛ – Jᴏᴜʀɴᴀʟ ᴅ’ᴜɴ ᴀssᴏᴄɪᴇ́
Le premier mot qui me vient en tête à la suite de cette lecture est : fascinant !
Ce roman m’interpellait depuis longtemps, je ressentais une énorme curiosité face à ce sujet qu’est le géant Walmart. J’avais entendu des rumeurs concernant cette chaîne américaine et je voulais savoir si elles étaient bel et bien fondées. J’avais aussi envie de connaître les débuts de ces magasins qui sont présents un peu partout sur la planète.
J’ai adoré ce livre écrit par Hugo Meunier. Je l’ai lu très rapidement, et ce, sans vouloir m’arrêter. J’ai appris plein de faits intéressants sur cette compagnie, notamment sur sa création par Sam Walton dans les années 60 en Arkansas, sur son déploiement international et sur son mode de fonctionnement. L’auteur peint, entre autres, un portrait pas très reluisant du maigre salaire des employés, des « associés » doit-on dire, versus leurs tâches à accomplir et les revenus faramineux rapportés pour chaque magasin. Le tout dans un cadre très rigide, digne de l’armée, mais aussi hyper enfantin. Il est aussi beaucoup question de syndicalisation.
Bien que j’aurais aimé avoir davantage de détails croustillants (oui, je suis très curieuse dans la vie), j’ai beaucoup apprécié le style et l’humour de l’auteur. Sans être moralisateur, ni de pointé méchamment Walmart du doigt, son but a plutôt été d’opter pour l’humain derrière la multinationale. À l’inverse de la philosophie de cette compagnie qui est « le client est notre patron » et de faire le plus de profit possible même si des milliards sont générés chaque année, Hugo Meunier met beaucoup l’emphase sur les associés. On sent beaucoup le respect qu’il a eu pour ses collègues autant pour ceux de Saint-Léonard, que ceux de Jonquière et même ceux de Mexico qu’il est allé visiter durant un voyage pour le journal La Presse.
Si vous êtes autant curieux que moi, je vous le recommande.
4/5☆
Le premier mot qui me vient en tête à la suite de cette lecture est : fascinant !
Ce roman m’interpellait depuis longtemps, je ressentais une énorme curiosité face à ce sujet qu’est le géant Walmart. J’avais entendu des rumeurs concernant cette chaîne américaine et je voulais savoir si elles étaient bel et bien fondées. J’avais aussi envie de connaître les débuts de ces magasins qui sont présents un peu partout sur la planète.
J’ai adoré ce livre écrit par Hugo Meunier. Je l’ai lu très rapidement, et ce, sans vouloir m’arrêter. J’ai appris plein de faits intéressants sur cette compagnie, notamment sur sa création par Sam Walton dans les années 60 en Arkansas, sur son déploiement international et sur son mode de fonctionnement. L’auteur peint, entre autres, un portrait pas très reluisant du maigre salaire des employés, des « associés » doit-on dire, versus leurs tâches à accomplir et les revenus faramineux rapportés pour chaque magasin. Le tout dans un cadre très rigide, digne de l’armée, mais aussi hyper enfantin. Il est aussi beaucoup question de syndicalisation.
Bien que j’aurais aimé avoir davantage de détails croustillants (oui, je suis très curieuse dans la vie), j’ai beaucoup apprécié le style et l’humour de l’auteur. Sans être moralisateur, ni de pointé méchamment Walmart du doigt, son but a plutôt été d’opter pour l’humain derrière la multinationale. À l’inverse de la philosophie de cette compagnie qui est « le client est notre patron » et de faire le plus de profit possible même si des milliards sont générés chaque année, Hugo Meunier met beaucoup l’emphase sur les associés. On sent beaucoup le respect qu’il a eu pour ses collègues autant pour ceux de Saint-Léonard, que ceux de Jonquière et même ceux de Mexico qu’il est allé visiter durant un voyage pour le journal La Presse.
Si vous êtes autant curieux que moi, je vous le recommande.
4/5☆
August 12, 2025
J’ai grandi dans une famille qui boycott Walmart à cause de ce qui est arrivé à Jonquière. J’ai aimé ma lecture, mais j’aurais pris encore plus d’anecdotes politiques/historiques entre les sections de journal de l’associé.
July 3, 2022
3,5/5 🤑
December 20, 2022
Fuck Walmart
C'est bien écrit, L'enquête est étoffée mais pas trop quand même
L'auteur aime bien faire des blagues douteuses.
C'est bien écrit, L'enquête est étoffée mais pas trop quand même
L'auteur aime bien faire des blagues douteuses.
February 26, 2023
Great insight on working at Walmart - very informative and well written
September 19, 2024
On se trompe jamais avec Hugo Meunier. Choquant, drôle, terre à terre,cynique. Loved it.
January 22, 2025
Bien écrit. Très intéressant d’avoir des détails sur la réalité des travailleurs de Walmart et de prendre un moment de réaliser la chance qu’on peut avoir dans notre emploi.
May 20, 2024
Eh bien, moi qui croyais que mes conditions salariales n’étaient pas bonnes…
Pour vrai, on n’y apprend rien de vraiment nouveau ou étonnant (à part les tactiques antisyndicales assez folles), mais ça se lit super rapidement.
Pour vrai, on n’y apprend rien de vraiment nouveau ou étonnant (à part les tactiques antisyndicales assez folles), mais ça se lit super rapidement.
November 24, 2025
Vraiment intéressant et instructif!
J'essaie déjà de réduire mes visites chez Walmart, et ce livre m'a convaincu de poursuivre mes efforts...
J'essaie déjà de réduire mes visites chez Walmart, et ce livre m'a convaincu de poursuivre mes efforts...
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