I've long wondered why it is that employees at the local Walmart seem so unhappy. In the story I above linked today, it seems that Walmart is punishing employees who are sick with flu like symptoms for staying home, as well as punishing those who stay home to take care of a sick family member. Hey, Walmart -- Have you heard of FMLA? Has anyone in Human Resources actually read the recommendations put forth by the CDC?
Thankfully not all Walmart employees cower at the ridiculous policies set forth by this behemoth organization, and have filed a claim with the NLC (National Labor Committee). Good for them.
But that doesn't' answer the question as to why Walmart repeatedly treats their employees like dirt, and why it is that we continue to support their ever growing chain of stores.
I have to say that I am one of those pesky people who can simply not turn off the way that people are treated by an organization, and should I become aware of mistreatment or other unethical or immoral conduct, I will swear off my allegiance to the violating company -- usually forever.
Walmart, for me has long fallen out of favor. It started with the discrimination against promoting female employees, and escalated when workers were locked inside buildings overnight, and came to a thundering crescendo on a local level when repeated attempts to have Walmart patrol their parking lot handicapped spaces for wayward carts failed.
I should mention that I repeatedly complained that Walmart were violating the law. I also informed them that if I got to three complaints, I would be contacting the Department of Justice to file a complaint under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). All I got was empty promises from store supervisors. You would think that at the very least they would try to make it look good during my presence there and remove the offending carts.
Apparently I was not alone in my beef about the parking situation and lack of accessibility to handicapped persons, because the Department of Justice filed suit against Walmart on this matter, which to my understanding was settled out of court.
Sure, Walmart is bringing jobs to small towns across the United States, but at what cost? Do employees have to put up with these corporate bullies? Why is it more important to the average American to save a few bucks than it is to support local businesses?
I'm not sure I have the answers to this question. However, I will tell you this: the more these types of issues arise, the more I am bound and determined to steer clear of Walmart.
If you want another reason to avoid this retailer, simply click here. That is, of course, unless you have a fashion statement to make.
There are plenty of other retailers out there. If you don't agree with Walmart's corporate policies, simply vote with your wallet and go somewhere else!
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