Walmart Doesn't Really Get It... T-Shirts Do Not Change Nasty Behaviors

With a Shirt and Discounts, Wal-Mart Says Thank You to Workers

Wal-Mart Stores has developed wide-ranging new program intended to show that it appreciates its 1.3 million workers in US and to encourage them to air their labor grievances; Wal-Mart managers at 4,000 stores will meet with 10 rank-and-file workers every week and extend additional 10 percent discount on single item during holidays to all its employees, beyond normal 10 percent employee discount; program was created during volatile six months period, starting when company instituted set of sweeping changes in how it managed its workers; Wal-Mart has sought to create cheaper, more flexible labor force by capping wages, using more part-time employees, scheduling more workers at night and weekends, and cracking down on unexcused days off; policies angered many long-time employees, who complained that changes would reduce their pay and disrupt their families' lives; documents describing program were provided to New York Times by WakeUpWalMart.com, group founded by United Food and Commercial Workers union, which fears that Wal-Mart will undermine unionized stores.

I love shopping at Walmart because I can afford things offered for sale their. I have noticed, however, that Walmart stores in better localities are better organizaed and offer better customer service, which leads me to believe that Walmart is in the business of exploiting consumers as well as exploiting workers. Walmart does not have a good reputation as an employer or as a corporate neighbor. As a corporation it has deliberately circumvented labor laws, forced workers to skip breaks, and short-changed many of its workers along the way. It's not that other corporations are not doing the same thing, it's that Walmart is so large that when it does these things people can't help but notice.

Unfortunately for Walmart, its bigger public presence, as well as its often unfair market tactics (similar to those used by Microsoft), paints a bigger target on its brand. However, what is needed is a definitive change in our labor laws, whistle-blower protections, and an overall policy change that does not tilt the entire world of work in favor of the employer, management and stockholders.

The Network of Spiritual Progressives is proposing a Social Responsibility Amendment that would allow ordinary citizens to review the "good corporate neighbor" status of corporations (and presumably licensed businesses) to assure that these things did not happen. I like the idea and will be promoting it.

However, it is amazing, if not mind-boggling, that Walmart (and other corporations like it) think that a few trinkets, t-shirts and some rinky-dink purchase discounts will improve their image, change the way employees react to them, or improve the lot that they impose on their employees.

Treating people like refuse does not go away when you award t-shirts and discounts.