Wal-Mart: Employee Relations

Wal-Mart, it’s one of the most easily identifiable transnational companies out there. Since its humble establishment in Rogers, Arkansas, United States, by Sam Walton, the store has grown to be one of the richest companies in the world. Why? Simply because Wal-Mart offers a variety of projects from pharmaceuticals to bicycles all while following the stores policy of offering more for less. Although this company provides a relatively affordable way for low income families to purchase the essentials one needs for life, in several cases we have heard of towns and cities petitioning to not allow this company into their communities? The reason that these communities would not like to have this financial giant in their town is because of the proven negative influence that Wal-Mart has on communities, the families of the employees, and the poor employee relations this company has with its associates. So the question is does the bargain that Wal-Mart offers outweigh the atrocious effects that Wal-Mart brings to the table when it comes to a community? According to several people the answer is, and always will be, no.

“Employee Relations involves the body of work concerned with maintaining employer-employee relationships that contribute to satisfactory productivity, motivation, and morale. Essentially, Employee Relations is concerned with preventing and resolving problems involving individuals which arise out of or affect work situations.” This quote by Heery, E. and Noon, M. defines exactly what employee relations are in a nutshell. If we were to look at Wal-Mart’s previous history of employee relations many would be disgusted at what they would find. In February of 2007, Wal-Mart was forced into one of the largest lawsuit concernin...

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...ss than local retailers and as a result local stores cannot offer the bargain and lose essentially all of their customers. Does a bargain outweigh the preservation of the environment, our lives, and our local economy? For the third and final time, the answer is positively no.

Wal-Mart, sure it provides low prices for the general public, but at what cost? The dignity and safety of their employees? The effects that the store has on the community? The families of the associates that work at the store? The answer is all of the above, Wal-Mart, is and has been a negative effect on the communities that it is established in and shows no effort to unregenerate their desultory practices. In this case it is easily identifiable that the negative effects of having the retail giant in any town outweighs the positive effects. The cost for such a low price is just too high.