A Wonderful Journey

A Wonderful Journey

Charles Romans

The Ashland Beacon

A long-time employee of the Walmart ‘On the Hill’ in Ashland recently posted on Facebook about her 22-year anniversary of working for the company. Posting things like anniversaries of all sorts as well as other life events and even just daily events are common on social media as a way for people to stay connected with each other. But this post, as the term goes, went viral and received much more attention than perhaps was expected. So much so, in fact, that the retailer took the time to recognize the employee who made the post.

“It was 22 years on February 24,” Brittany Waller, the employee who made the post said proud. Waller loves her job and says that she started with the company fresh out of high school. “I needed something to do after finishing high school, because I like to stay busy.” The Ironton, Ohio, native said she really enjoys working at the Ashland Walmart location, and what began as just needing a job has become a career for her that she loves.

Waller currently works as a Front-End Team Associate and among other duties helps customers who make use of the self-checkout lanes. She began working with the company as a Greeter and worked in that capacity for nearly fifteen years before switching duties. Waller said part of the perks of the job is being able to interact with customers as they come into the store. Many of them are what she calls her ‘regular customers’, and after 22 years she said she has watched many of them grow up.

Walmart Manager Brandon Trent, who himself has been with the company over 25 years, said that everyone is quite fond of Brittany as well, whether they are customers or other employees. “We posted on our own Facebook page about how pleased we as a company are with her being with us for 22 years,” Trent said. Walmart awarded Waller with the Social Media Star Award in recognition of her recent post that that generated 2,7 thousand likes and 500 comments.

 “The post got so many likes and comments from all over,” Trent said. “And that shows how many people over the years have appreciated her dedication and helpfulness. The way she treats people is wonderful,” Trent said. “Customers, employees, and even retired employees all make a point to say how nice and helpful she is every single time they see her. There are tons of customer comments alone about how she makes it so wonderful to shop here.”

Trent said that the response to Waller’s post was not surprising considering how many people truly enjoy their interactions with her, but the responses went well beyond what they are used to seeing. “It’s nice to see all the comments,” he said. “And we love it when customers voice their appreciation for one of our associates and the store itself.”

Waller herself said the responses were flattering and a little humbling as well. “I like to help out as much as I can,” she said. In fact, she said that the interactions she has with customers on a daily basis is her favorite part of the job. “I love talking to people,” she said. “I get to talk to people and their families, and I love talking to kids. I have basically watched a lot of those kids grow up,” Waller said. “And that is an amazing connection.”

“I had a customer come through the other day who told me that he remembered me always being part of his life. He said he was just a baby when his mom and dad started shopping here, and he remembers being a little kid and seeing me while shopping.,” Waller said.

Making connections with customers and other employees is why Waller has enjoyed her 22 years at Walmart, she said. Over time everyone has become like a very large extended family, she said, and that has made it seem more than just a job to her. And though she might not work for the company another 22 years – in spite of Trent insisting that she should – Waller has no intention of doing anything else. Because, honestly, when a job feels like home, why would you go anywhere else? she said.