Walmart History Essay
Argument of Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an international discount department store chain operating in many towns and cities in multiple countries. Wal-Mart’s founder, Samuel Walton, “decided that small-town populations would welcome, and make profitable, large discount shopping stores” (Healy 493).Therefore, he started to build the largest discount department stores and opened the first Wal-Mart discount store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962 (Healy 493). Wal-Mart sells many different kinds of products, such as clothes, food, books, furniture, and many more. Wal-Mart has been growing very fast. “In 1979, there were 276 Wal-Mart stores in 11 states. Sales had gone from $44 million in 1970 to $1.25 billion in 1979. Wal-Mart became the fastest …show more content…
company to reach the $1 billion mark” (Kepos556). Moreover, “Wal-Mart opened its department-sized stores in towns with populations of 5,000 to 25,000, and the stores tend to draw customers from a large radius” (Healy 492). Wal-Mart has also expanded its business internationally. “Wal-Mart becomes the largest retailer in the world with 10,130 stores in 27 countries” (Healy 493). “Internationally, more than 90% of the company 's 5,600 stores operate under a banner other than Wal-Mart. Overseas business accounts for approximately 28% of the company 's annual revenues. Domestically and abroad, the company 's stores stock groceries, electronics, apparel, appliances and home furnishings, hardware, sporting goods, and health care products” (Healy 498). Wal-Mart has 2.2 million employees in 2013 ("Walmart Corporate – Locations"). Wal-Mart has positive behaviors and has participated in charitable activities. For instance, Wal-Mart creates a comfortable shopping environment by making customers feel at home in a large-scale shopping facility, such as having phone hot-lines, making a rubbery surface floor, and offering electric shopping carts and playrooms (Kepos558). Also, Wal-Mart “built an experimental store that would sell products made from recycled materials, in keeping with the company’s environmental position of using recycled paper and plastic materials” (Kopes558).In the same year, Wal-Mart has a record of community services. “Wal-Mart donated some proceeds from the company’s profit to be channeled into the Competitive Edge Scholarship Fund” (Healy 496).
However, Wal-Mart has also received negative criticisms that are related to business operations that do not use the proper business ethics and, as a result, hurt small local businesses, create unequal treatment for laborers, and create environmental pollution. Wal-Mart also came under criticism for its impact on small retail businesses. Local businesses often went out of business when Wal-Mart came to town because they are unable to compete with the superstore 's low prices (Healy 497). In addition, Wal-Mart has received some criticism for mistreatment of laborers. For example, Wal-Mart exploits employees and uses Asian laborers to keep the costs down. Wal-Mart creates unequal treatment for laborers. People accuse Wal-Mart of various corrupt behaviors; for example, lowering wages, limiting employee benefits, prohibiting employees to unionize, and putting the employee health care costs onto the government are only some of the complaints. In addition to their salaries being cut, Wal-Mart has also been accused of not paying for overtime work, and even serious environmental pollution (Greenwald). Evidently, there are many criticisms impacting Wal-Mart’s business. From its Annual Report, Wal-Mart is growing every year, being strong, bigger, developing well, and opening many stores around the world. While Wal-Mart is being strong in its business, it is only involved for its profit. Wal-Mart does not do well with its employees and laborers. Although Wal-Mart continues to grow, Wal-Mart has a lot of criticisms, such as destroying local business, exploiting employees, and creating environmental pollution. Those criticisms would be issues to lack of success and further affect its business; moreover, those impacted do not want to work at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart’s biggest competition has long been Target (O’Reilly). Target’s management treats its employees much better than Wal-Mart.
To understand more about Target, it is useful to know Target’s history.
“The Target Corporation, originally the Dayton Dry Goods Company and later the Dayton Hudson Corporation, is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, with Wal-Mart being the largest.” (“Target through the year”) Target’s founder, John Dayton, founded the business in 1902 and opened the first Target store in 1962 in Roseville, Minnesota. “In 2013, Target expanded into Canada and now operates nearly 100 locations through its Canadian subsidiary.” (“Target through the year”) Also, Target has 361,000 employees in 2013. (“Target through the …show more content…
year”)
Both large corporations have numerous employees. However, both companies have both positive and negative traits that make them different. Target treats its employees better and is a better company to work for. Wal-Mart has a more negative environment for employees to work in. In three different ways, Target’s business environment is ethically better. Although Wal-Mart has more employees than Target, Target treats its employees better than Wal-Mart in wages, time off and benefits, and workplace environment. To Target offers better compensation to its employees.
Although Wal-Mart’s wage conditions look better than Target, according to the Report, “Target sales associate team members make an average of $8.34 per hour, whereas sales associates at Wal-Mart make an average of $8.86 per hour. In addition, cashiers at Target make $0.41 less per hour than Wal-Mart cashiers, who earn on average $8.51 per hour” (O’Reilly), this is the only factor where Wal-Mart is better than Target. Based on this information, Wal-Mart’s incumbency rate should be higher; instead, Target is a more popular with job seekers than Wal-Mart. Since Wal-Mart has faced a torrent of unpaid wage lawsuits, this factor causes them to lose employees trust, and therefore people do not believe that Wal-Mart is a good workplace. CBSNews reported, “Wal-Mart is being slapped with a lawsuit that claims that the largest retailer and its staffing agencies broke federal minimum wage and overtime laws by requiring temporary workers to appear early for work, stay late to complete work and work through lunches and breaks without compensation” Wal-Mart exploits employees and creates unequal treatment for laborers. This behavior disappoints employees, and it is clear that Wal-Mart is not the better company to work for. The biggest disparity between Wal-Mart and Target is Target does not take money from employees to make more profit. Moreover, Target offers employee bonuses, good health care, and a retirement pension. “The
Target Company is flexible with employees who want to work part-time and spend time with their families. Its 401(k) retirement plan is considered among the best in the retail industry; it matches, dollar for dollar, up to 5 percent of all contributions made by employees. And all new workers receive a 10 percent discount on most merchandise purchased at Target” (Serres). Target has benefits and its ethical is better than Wal-Mart.
As for time off and benefits, “Target starts out by offering slightly more vacation for workers with less than a year 's tenure. Those with one year of experience at the store typically get a week off with pay” (Serres).At Wal-Mart, it 's the same. However, the difference is that at Target, employees can have a more humane amount of time off. “As far as its flexibility, Target was a wonderful place to work,” said Jennifer Clark, who worked at a Target store in Mission Viejo, California; “If I told the manager that my daughter was receiving an award at school and I needed to leave early, he’d say, ‘Sure, go ahead. Take care of your family first.’ ” (Serres). On the contrary, Wal-Mart’s employees work overtime and cannot casually get time off; if they do not obey, they will get punished or fired with no chance to appeal. One Asian female worker disclosed, “The working conditions in the factories are quite bad and the environment is dirty; they need to work from 7:30 am to 10 pm all week long…afraid to say anything because they fear they will get punishment” (Greenwald). Work time that long without any breaks is unfair and quite abusive to employees. “If you do well you can get a reward, if not, you will get punishment or even get fired, therefore, and there is no chance to speak out the truth” (Greenwald). Working in Wal-Mart makes employees feel not valued because they are being pressured, and they experience much unequal treatment. Target’s work time and time off are more humane and fair than Wal-Mart.
However, when it comes to an employee’s happiness and a good workplace, Target’s concern is better than Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart’s wages are slightly better than Target, higher wages do not guarantee employee satisfaction and a good work environment. Target has happier employees; actually, Target won the “CareerBliss’s Leap award in 2011, beating 250,000 other organizations” (O’Reilly). Wal-Mart did not win an award such as this. Target’s employees gave the company very high praise. On the other hand, Wal-Mart’s employees are complaining about Wal-Mart’s unfair treatment. According to O’Reilly, “Target actually improved its employee happiness by 12%. Unlike at Wal-Mart, Target associates seemingly care less about compensation and more about their work environment and its perks”. O’Reilly mentioned, “Happiness at its best”; creating happiness in the workplace can make more profit for both. Also, Target believed, “that a happy work environment leads to better customer service, and ultimately, profits for the company” (O’Reilly). Furthermore, treating employees well contributes to a good workplace, and it is a long-term investment for company success (O’Reilly). Target treating employees well is just as important as treating business expansion well, so it is crucial to have a good workplace that treats its employees with respect. On the contrary, Wal-Mart pays less attention on customer service excellence, so Wal-Mart creates much employee compensation, many employee turnovers and less employee loyalty (O’Reilly). Therefore, unlike Wal-Mart, Target treats its employees better.
In conclusion, Target is a better company to work for rather than Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart’s business history is longer and is more prominent in other countries than Target, both corporations differ in how employees are treated. Truly, Target treats its employees better due to wages, time off, and employees’ satisfaction. The conditions are a very important reference for employees looking to find a job. Wages are not the only criteria of a good workplace, so many Target employees insist it is still a much better place to work than Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, Wal-Mart’s workplace has a lot of unpaid lawsuits, employees who work overtime, and employees complaining. Definitely, Wal-Mart’s work conditions are worse, and one should not consider working there. In contrast, Target creates better benefits, more vacation time, and happy workplace for its employees. For this reasons, one should consider working at Target instead of working at Wal-Mart.
Works Cited
Bowermaster, Jon. “When Wal-Mart Comes to Town.” New York Times Magazine, April 2, 1989.
Fitzgerald, Kate, “Suppliers Rallying Against Negative ‘Dateline’ Report,” Advertising Age, 4 Jan. 1993, p. 3, 38. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
Healy, Carole, et al. "Wal-Mart Stores, Inc." International Directory of Company Histories. Ed. Jay P. Pederson. Vol. 141. Detroit: St. James Press, 2013. 492-499. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.
Krazyjesus. “Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price.” Robert Greenwald. YouTube. 06 May. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.
O’Reilly, Natalie. “Why Aren 't Target Employees Striking Like Their Cousins At Wal-Mart?” Fool.com. The Motley Fool, 16 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
“Target through the years” Target.com. Target Store, Inc. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Serres, Chris. “Is Target Corporation Any Better for Workers?” Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
"Wal-Mart Stores, Inc." International Directory of Company Histories. Ed. Paula Kepos. Vol. 8. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994. 555-557. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
“Wal-Mart 2013 Annual Report” Walmart.com. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. "Walmart Corporate – Locations." Walmart.com.Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
“Wal-Mart sued over temp workers hours” CBSNews.com. 22 Oct. 2012.CBSNews.Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an international discount department store chain operating in many towns and cities in multiple countries. Wal-Mart’s founder, Samuel Walton, “decided that small-town populations would welcome, and make profitable, large discount shopping stores” (Healy 493).Therefore, he started to build the largest discount department stores and opened the first Wal-Mart discount store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962 (Healy 493). Wal-Mart sells many different kinds of products, such as clothes, food, books, furniture, and many more. Wal-Mart has been growing very fast. “In 1979, there were 276 Wal-Mart stores in 11 states. Sales had gone from $44 million in 1970 to $1.25 billion in 1979. Wal-Mart became the fastest …show more content…
company to reach the $1 billion mark” (Kepos556). Moreover, “Wal-Mart opened its department-sized stores in towns with populations of 5,000 to 25,000, and the stores tend to draw customers from a large radius” (Healy 492). Wal-Mart has also expanded its business internationally. “Wal-Mart becomes the largest retailer in the world with 10,130 stores in 27 countries” (Healy 493). “Internationally, more than 90% of the company 's 5,600 stores operate under a banner other than Wal-Mart. Overseas business accounts for approximately 28% of the company 's annual revenues. Domestically and abroad, the company 's stores stock groceries, electronics, apparel, appliances and home furnishings, hardware, sporting goods, and health care products” (Healy 498). Wal-Mart has 2.2 million employees in 2013 ("Walmart Corporate – Locations"). Wal-Mart has positive behaviors and has participated in charitable activities. For instance, Wal-Mart creates a comfortable shopping environment by making customers feel at home in a large-scale shopping facility, such as having phone hot-lines, making a rubbery surface floor, and offering electric shopping carts and playrooms (Kepos558). Also, Wal-Mart “built an experimental store that would sell products made from recycled materials, in keeping with the company’s environmental position of using recycled paper and plastic materials” (Kopes558).In the same year, Wal-Mart has a record of community services. “Wal-Mart donated some proceeds from the company’s profit to be channeled into the Competitive Edge Scholarship Fund” (Healy 496).
However, Wal-Mart has also received negative criticisms that are related to business operations that do not use the proper business ethics and, as a result, hurt small local businesses, create unequal treatment for laborers, and create environmental pollution. Wal-Mart also came under criticism for its impact on small retail businesses. Local businesses often went out of business when Wal-Mart came to town because they are unable to compete with the superstore 's low prices (Healy 497). In addition, Wal-Mart has received some criticism for mistreatment of laborers. For example, Wal-Mart exploits employees and uses Asian laborers to keep the costs down. Wal-Mart creates unequal treatment for laborers. People accuse Wal-Mart of various corrupt behaviors; for example, lowering wages, limiting employee benefits, prohibiting employees to unionize, and putting the employee health care costs onto the government are only some of the complaints. In addition to their salaries being cut, Wal-Mart has also been accused of not paying for overtime work, and even serious environmental pollution (Greenwald). Evidently, there are many criticisms impacting Wal-Mart’s business. From its Annual Report, Wal-Mart is growing every year, being strong, bigger, developing well, and opening many stores around the world. While Wal-Mart is being strong in its business, it is only involved for its profit. Wal-Mart does not do well with its employees and laborers. Although Wal-Mart continues to grow, Wal-Mart has a lot of criticisms, such as destroying local business, exploiting employees, and creating environmental pollution. Those criticisms would be issues to lack of success and further affect its business; moreover, those impacted do not want to work at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart’s biggest competition has long been Target (O’Reilly). Target’s management treats its employees much better than Wal-Mart.
To understand more about Target, it is useful to know Target’s history.
“The Target Corporation, originally the Dayton Dry Goods Company and later the Dayton Hudson Corporation, is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, with Wal-Mart being the largest.” (“Target through the year”) Target’s founder, John Dayton, founded the business in 1902 and opened the first Target store in 1962 in Roseville, Minnesota. “In 2013, Target expanded into Canada and now operates nearly 100 locations through its Canadian subsidiary.” (“Target through the year”) Also, Target has 361,000 employees in 2013. (“Target through the …show more content…
year”)
Both large corporations have numerous employees. However, both companies have both positive and negative traits that make them different. Target treats its employees better and is a better company to work for. Wal-Mart has a more negative environment for employees to work in. In three different ways, Target’s business environment is ethically better. Although Wal-Mart has more employees than Target, Target treats its employees better than Wal-Mart in wages, time off and benefits, and workplace environment. To Target offers better compensation to its employees.
Although Wal-Mart’s wage conditions look better than Target, according to the Report, “Target sales associate team members make an average of $8.34 per hour, whereas sales associates at Wal-Mart make an average of $8.86 per hour. In addition, cashiers at Target make $0.41 less per hour than Wal-Mart cashiers, who earn on average $8.51 per hour” (O’Reilly), this is the only factor where Wal-Mart is better than Target. Based on this information, Wal-Mart’s incumbency rate should be higher; instead, Target is a more popular with job seekers than Wal-Mart. Since Wal-Mart has faced a torrent of unpaid wage lawsuits, this factor causes them to lose employees trust, and therefore people do not believe that Wal-Mart is a good workplace. CBSNews reported, “Wal-Mart is being slapped with a lawsuit that claims that the largest retailer and its staffing agencies broke federal minimum wage and overtime laws by requiring temporary workers to appear early for work, stay late to complete work and work through lunches and breaks without compensation” Wal-Mart exploits employees and creates unequal treatment for laborers. This behavior disappoints employees, and it is clear that Wal-Mart is not the better company to work for. The biggest disparity between Wal-Mart and Target is Target does not take money from employees to make more profit. Moreover, Target offers employee bonuses, good health care, and a retirement pension. “The
Target Company is flexible with employees who want to work part-time and spend time with their families. Its 401(k) retirement plan is considered among the best in the retail industry; it matches, dollar for dollar, up to 5 percent of all contributions made by employees. And all new workers receive a 10 percent discount on most merchandise purchased at Target” (Serres). Target has benefits and its ethical is better than Wal-Mart.
As for time off and benefits, “Target starts out by offering slightly more vacation for workers with less than a year 's tenure. Those with one year of experience at the store typically get a week off with pay” (Serres).At Wal-Mart, it 's the same. However, the difference is that at Target, employees can have a more humane amount of time off. “As far as its flexibility, Target was a wonderful place to work,” said Jennifer Clark, who worked at a Target store in Mission Viejo, California; “If I told the manager that my daughter was receiving an award at school and I needed to leave early, he’d say, ‘Sure, go ahead. Take care of your family first.’ ” (Serres). On the contrary, Wal-Mart’s employees work overtime and cannot casually get time off; if they do not obey, they will get punished or fired with no chance to appeal. One Asian female worker disclosed, “The working conditions in the factories are quite bad and the environment is dirty; they need to work from 7:30 am to 10 pm all week long…afraid to say anything because they fear they will get punishment” (Greenwald). Work time that long without any breaks is unfair and quite abusive to employees. “If you do well you can get a reward, if not, you will get punishment or even get fired, therefore, and there is no chance to speak out the truth” (Greenwald). Working in Wal-Mart makes employees feel not valued because they are being pressured, and they experience much unequal treatment. Target’s work time and time off are more humane and fair than Wal-Mart.
However, when it comes to an employee’s happiness and a good workplace, Target’s concern is better than Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart’s wages are slightly better than Target, higher wages do not guarantee employee satisfaction and a good work environment. Target has happier employees; actually, Target won the “CareerBliss’s Leap award in 2011, beating 250,000 other organizations” (O’Reilly). Wal-Mart did not win an award such as this. Target’s employees gave the company very high praise. On the other hand, Wal-Mart’s employees are complaining about Wal-Mart’s unfair treatment. According to O’Reilly, “Target actually improved its employee happiness by 12%. Unlike at Wal-Mart, Target associates seemingly care less about compensation and more about their work environment and its perks”. O’Reilly mentioned, “Happiness at its best”; creating happiness in the workplace can make more profit for both. Also, Target believed, “that a happy work environment leads to better customer service, and ultimately, profits for the company” (O’Reilly). Furthermore, treating employees well contributes to a good workplace, and it is a long-term investment for company success (O’Reilly). Target treating employees well is just as important as treating business expansion well, so it is crucial to have a good workplace that treats its employees with respect. On the contrary, Wal-Mart pays less attention on customer service excellence, so Wal-Mart creates much employee compensation, many employee turnovers and less employee loyalty (O’Reilly). Therefore, unlike Wal-Mart, Target treats its employees better.
In conclusion, Target is a better company to work for rather than Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart’s business history is longer and is more prominent in other countries than Target, both corporations differ in how employees are treated. Truly, Target treats its employees better due to wages, time off, and employees’ satisfaction. The conditions are a very important reference for employees looking to find a job. Wages are not the only criteria of a good workplace, so many Target employees insist it is still a much better place to work than Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, Wal-Mart’s workplace has a lot of unpaid lawsuits, employees who work overtime, and employees complaining. Definitely, Wal-Mart’s work conditions are worse, and one should not consider working there. In contrast, Target creates better benefits, more vacation time, and happy workplace for its employees. For this reasons, one should consider working at Target instead of working at Wal-Mart.
Works Cited
Bowermaster, Jon. “When Wal-Mart Comes to Town.” New York Times Magazine, April 2, 1989.
Fitzgerald, Kate, “Suppliers Rallying Against Negative ‘Dateline’ Report,” Advertising Age, 4 Jan. 1993, p. 3, 38. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
Healy, Carole, et al. "Wal-Mart Stores, Inc." International Directory of Company Histories. Ed. Jay P. Pederson. Vol. 141. Detroit: St. James Press, 2013. 492-499. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.
Krazyjesus. “Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price.” Robert Greenwald. YouTube. 06 May. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.
O’Reilly, Natalie. “Why Aren 't Target Employees Striking Like Their Cousins At Wal-Mart?” Fool.com. The Motley Fool, 16 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
“Target through the years” Target.com. Target Store, Inc. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Serres, Chris. “Is Target Corporation Any Better for Workers?” Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
"Wal-Mart Stores, Inc." International Directory of Company Histories. Ed. Paula Kepos. Vol. 8. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994. 555-557. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
“Wal-Mart 2013 Annual Report” Walmart.com. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. "Walmart Corporate – Locations." Walmart.com.Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
“Wal-Mart sued over temp workers hours” CBSNews.com. 22 Oct. 2012.CBSNews.Web. 10 Dec. 2013.