Comments on: What’s Walmart got to do with it? Working women, the wage gap & equality in the workplace. http://blog.alstin.com/whats-walmart-got-to-do-with-it-working-women-the-wage-gap-equality-in-the-workplace The power of done.® Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:01:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Annette DeHaven http://blog.alstin.com/whats-walmart-got-to-do-with-it-working-women-the-wage-gap-equality-in-the-workplace/comment-page-1#comment-1776 Annette DeHaven Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:30:20 +0000 http://blog.alstin.com/?p=2328#comment-1776 I think there’s another question missing here: Is it hard to believe that these women were discriminated against during their tenure at Walmart? Sadly, that I do not find hard to believe. Now that we have a class action lawsuit moving forward, I hope that the heart of the case is not lost. As I noted, I do find it worth questioning whether their experiences (6 employees) can truly be representative of the entire company (2.1 million employees). However, to your point, why wasn’t Walmart watching more closely for patterns at these stores? As you noted, they have been in a bad spotlight before for hiring practices. Walmart’s also had plenty of negative press and challenges posed to them about their business practices in general – for example Frontline’s “Is Walmart good for America?” piece: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/ I don’t think any company should be vilified, but again should any organization be too big to be held responsible? I think there’s another question missing here: Is it hard to believe that these women were discriminated against during their tenure at Walmart? Sadly, that I do not find hard to believe.

Now that we have a class action lawsuit moving forward, I hope that the heart of the case is not lost. As I noted, I do find it worth questioning whether their experiences (6 employees) can truly be representative of the entire company (2.1 million employees).

However, to your point, why wasn’t Walmart watching more closely for patterns at these stores? As you noted, they have been in a bad spotlight before for hiring practices. Walmart’s also had plenty of negative press and challenges posed to them about their business practices in general – for example Frontline’s “Is Walmart good for America?” piece: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/

I don’t think any company should be vilified, but again should any organization be too big to be held responsible?

]]> By: Larry Kludt http://blog.alstin.com/whats-walmart-got-to-do-with-it-working-women-the-wage-gap-equality-in-the-workplace/comment-page-1#comment-1775 Larry Kludt Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:02:37 +0000 http://blog.alstin.com/?p=2328#comment-1775 Annette, As an executive HR professional for most of my professional life, and having "participated" in several EEOC audits, I am following the Wal-Mart case closely. As you may know they had a serious case a few years ago regarding hiring illegal aliens through a thrird party for overnight clean-up, re-stocking etc. I thought to myself, they have an HR leadership problem. I find it hard to believe that they would have a systemic issue now with women's pay practices. It makes no sense on many levels. Unfortunately for Wal-Mart the only side of the story that gets published at this point is the Plantiff's side. They have nothing to lose. So, would love to chat with you more about it because it is possible that it is or may be a significant case. Wal-Mart has to know it's in the spotlight with it's union appeal etc. I find it hard to believe that they would allow themselves to be vunerable to this kind of an issue. I would be curious to hear more of your thoughts on this issue. Thanks. Annette,

As an executive HR professional for most of my professional life, and having “participated” in several EEOC audits, I am following the Wal-Mart case closely. As you may know they had a serious case a few years ago regarding hiring illegal aliens through a thrird party for overnight clean-up, re-stocking etc. I thought to myself, they have an HR leadership problem. I find it hard to believe that they would have a systemic issue now with women’s pay practices. It makes no sense on many levels. Unfortunately for Wal-Mart the only side of the story that gets published at this point is the Plantiff’s side. They have nothing to lose. So, would love to chat with you more about it because it is possible that it is or may be a significant case. Wal-Mart has to know it’s in the spotlight with it’s union appeal etc. I find it hard to believe that they would allow themselves to be vunerable to this kind of an issue. I would be curious to hear more of your thoughts on this issue.
Thanks.

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