Friday, February 17, 2006

Wal-Mart Employees Cannot Express Opinions

Why I don't shop at Wal-Mart: Reason No. 27
According to the New York Times, a Wal-Mart manager was told he was disloyal for questioning the company's policy on some benefits:

In a confidential, internal Web site for Wal-Mart's managers, the company's chief executive, H. Lee Scott Jr., seemed to have a rare, unscripted moment when one manager asked him why "the largest company on the planet cannot offer some type of medical retirement benefits?"

Mr. Scott first argues that the cost of such benefits would leave Wal-Mart at a competitive disadvantage but then, clearly annoyed, he suggests that the store manager is disloyal and should consider quitting....

Wal-Mart might have more loyal employees if they were treated with respect, better pay, benefits, and regarded as people, instead of slaves/serfs. It is no wonder the company has a very high employee turnover.