It's really no surprise Wal-Mart has laid off local workers at their Home Office in Bentonville.  Over the years they've done various forms of this process.  It's been called "Right-Sizing", "Restructuring", "Reorganization", etc.  Any way you spin it, there are hundreds of people and families affected.

I worked for Wal-Mart for 15 years - starting at the Bentonville Dispatch Office and working my way around the country until I returned to the Home Office in various roles.  I left in the fall of 2005 to begin a career in real-estate.  Talk about timing - just about the time I got licensed and all set to go, the bottom fell out of the market!

I've since worked hard to get my GRI Designation and my Executive Broker's License.  I've done ok.  I specialize in listing properties and have a good marketing program to get them sold. 

For those of you affected either directly or indirectly by the recent lay-offs, my heart goes out to you.  I wish you only the best in your endeavors to get back into the job market and find something comparable or better financially.