Wal-Mart and Human Resource Management
Human Resources and Wal-mart
Penicia Rooks
MGT490 Strategic Human Resources Planning
Instructor Stepheny Finnie
February 6th, 2012
Human Resources and Wal-mart
Wal-mart is the number one retail store in the U.S. and was founded by Sam Walton in 1962. Wal-mart has expanded to include the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, China, and various other places. In 1988, Wal-mart developed the Supercenter concept to meet the growing demand for one stop family shopping. Supercenters combine grocery and general merchandise all under one roof. Their purpose is saving people money to help them live better (Wal-Mart, n.d). Even their success Wal-mart has still had many lawsuits for violating labor laws and discrimination.
In 2000, an internal audit was performed and it revealed that employees were not taking breaks that were required under policy of the company and state laws. Wal-mart ignored this audit and faced more than seventy lawsuits across the country that accused them of not allowing rest/meal breaks to their employees and for forcing them to work off the clock without getting paid (Friedman, 2008). Before the internal audit they had received complaints from employees and knew some managers’ had concerns that employees were not receiving required breaks. Many of the stores were understaffed so the employees were made to work through breaks to complete work tasks. Wal-mart denied all allegations of wrongdoing (Friedman, 2008).
These labor law violation lawsuits made it look like Wal-mart did not value their employees and as long as the work was getting done it did not matter if laws or employee rights were violated. Wal-marts spokeswoman Daphne Moore stated that “"Our policy is to pay every associate for every hour worked and to make rest and meal breaks available for our associates and any manager who violates either of these policies is subject to discipline - up to and including termination" (Friedman, 2008
Penicia Rooks
MGT490 Strategic Human Resources Planning
Instructor Stepheny Finnie
February 6th, 2012
Human Resources and Wal-mart
Wal-mart is the number one retail store in the U.S. and was founded by Sam Walton in 1962. Wal-mart has expanded to include the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, China, and various other places. In 1988, Wal-mart developed the Supercenter concept to meet the growing demand for one stop family shopping. Supercenters combine grocery and general merchandise all under one roof. Their purpose is saving people money to help them live better (Wal-Mart, n.d). Even their success Wal-mart has still had many lawsuits for violating labor laws and discrimination.
In 2000, an internal audit was performed and it revealed that employees were not taking breaks that were required under policy of the company and state laws. Wal-mart ignored this audit and faced more than seventy lawsuits across the country that accused them of not allowing rest/meal breaks to their employees and for forcing them to work off the clock without getting paid (Friedman, 2008). Before the internal audit they had received complaints from employees and knew some managers’ had concerns that employees were not receiving required breaks. Many of the stores were understaffed so the employees were made to work through breaks to complete work tasks. Wal-mart denied all allegations of wrongdoing (Friedman, 2008).
These labor law violation lawsuits made it look like Wal-mart did not value their employees and as long as the work was getting done it did not matter if laws or employee rights were violated. Wal-marts spokeswoman Daphne Moore stated that “"Our policy is to pay every associate for every hour worked and to make rest and meal breaks available for our associates and any manager who violates either of these policies is subject to discipline - up to and including termination" (Friedman, 2008
References: Adam, (August 16, 2009). SWOT OR TOWS Analysis (TOWS Matrix). Retrieved January 16th, 2012 from http://www.mba-tutorials.com/strategy/96-swot-or-tows-analysis-tows-matrix.html David, P. (2007). Surge in wage suits has courts on overtime. Minneapolis: Star Tribune. Retrieved January 13th, 2012 from http://www.startribune.com/business/11244976.html Friedman, M., (July 28th, 2008). Wal-Mart’s Own Audit Documented Constant Violation of Labor Laws. Retrieved Jan7th, 2012 from http://reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/2008/internal_audit_proved_violations.php Greenhouse, S., (July, 2nd, 2008) Wal-Mart Faces Fine in Minnesota Suit Involving Work Breaks. Retrieved Jan 7th, 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/business/02walmart.html?oref=slogin Holbeche, L., (2009) Aligning Human Resources and Business Strategy (2nd. Ed.) Ivancevich, J.M., (2010) Human Resource Management (11th Ed.) Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., (2008). Principles of Marketing (12th Ed.) Pearson Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey SHRM. (2006, December 1). Training cost per employee. Retrieved January 13th, 2012 from http://www.shrm.org/Research/Articles/Articles/Pages/MetricoftheMonthTrainingCostPerEmployee.aspx Wal-Mart. (Nov, 13, 2008). Wal-Mart Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2009 Earnings. Retrieved Jan. 13th, 2012 from walmartstores.com/download/3364.pdf Wood, L., (April 18, 2008). Research and Markets: Evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Retrieved from Westlaw on January 15th, 2012