Company history

1962On July 2, 1962, Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Ark.
1967The Walton family owned 24 stores, ringing up $12.7 million in sales 1970Walmart became a publicly traded company. The first stock was sold at $16.50 per share

 1980Wal-Mart reached $1 billion in annual sales, faster than any other company at that time. 1997The company celebrated its first $100 billion sales year. 1999Wal-Mart entered the United Kingdom with the acquisition of ASDA.

2005 Wal-Mart took a leading role in disaster relief, contributing $18 million and 2,450 truckloads of supplies to victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Wal-Mart made a major commitment to environmental sustainability, announcing goals to create zero waste, use only renewable energy and sell products that sustain people and the environment. 2010 Bharti Wal-Mart, a joint venture, opened its first store in India.

According to PBS
Wal-Mart employs more people than any other company in the United States outside of the Federal government, yet the majority of its employees with children live below the poverty line.(www.pbs.org) In addition, Wal-Mart likes to portray itself as a seller of U.S. manufactured goods but in reality the company has products on its shelves made in foreign countries and at questionable workshops. It would seem that Wal-Mart encourages made in the USA but it really encourages products made outside the USA. As a result, Wal-Mart has forced many manufacturers out of business. As a matter of fact, this big giant is facing a significant amount of controversy for unethical business practices. In fact, some of these unethical business practices include the following.

Unethical practices
Open door policy as against labor union Wal-Mart is a non union organization that
feels it does not need third party intervention. So, Instead of unions, Wal-Mart has an open door policy that encourages employees to take their complaints beyond management. According to this policy the door of the management is always open for the associates to share suggestions, ideas, and voice concerns. Whether its help with a problem, guidance or direction, or simply getting an answer to a question. Managers also treat all discussions fairly, with an open mind, and without bias. They maintain complete confidentially, whenever its possible. They work with the associates to mutually resolve any issues or problems.

Analysis of open door policy

The open door policy does little to help its employees but gives the business the leverage it needs to terminate unwanted non compliant help.
Employees start out at lower wages than unionized corporations and end up quitting by the end of the first year. Its anti-union policy is a central part of its obsession with minimizing costs Wal-Mart provides managers with its infamous Managers Toolbox to Remaining Union Free that states Staying union free is a full time commitment. Unless union prevention is a goal equal to other goals and objectives in the organization, management will not devote the necessary day in, day out attention and effort If there is any evidence of moves towards unionization, managers are ordered to phone the Wal-Mart Union Hotline immediately.

Unethical and aggressive policies

Wal-Mart works aggressively to create a climate of fear and intimidations where workers fear they ll be fired, disciplined, or lose benefits if they try to form a union.
Wal-Mart routinely monitors and spies on union organizers and pro-union employees and selectively enforces company policies against pro-union workers. Wal-Mart engages in unit packing and other tactics to prevent organizing efforts. When workers have successfully organized, Wal-Mart has refused to bargain, or has shut down stores and units where workers have organized Wal-Mart also prohibits employees from talking to union representatives. It is unethical for Wal-Mart to prohibit employees to talk to union representatives since according to the National Labor Relations Act; employers are not allowed to discourage employees from forming a union for they have that right.

Unfair treatment of employees

Wage And Hour Violations: Not only does the company have a history of methodically violating workers right to join a union, the WalMart record on worker rights is a laundry list of abuse. Wal-Mart has racked up a striking number of wage and hour violations Decreased health care coverage: Wal-Mart has decreased health care coverage to employees while touting its commitment to offering affordable care. Evidence suggests that Wal-Mart may have even adopted a strategy of eliminating long time workers and discouraging overweight or otherwise unhealthy workers from applyingboth as measures to reduce payroll and health care costs.

Violations of child labor law

One internal audit of 25,000 employees in 128 Wal-Mart stores in the USA found 1,371 violations of child labour laws, including minors working too late, too many hours a day and during school hours.
Wal-Mart is proving to be a nation and future breaker by violating the child labour laws and spoiling the future of the children to enrich themselves, ignoring seniority

Gender discrimination
Less Managerial positions to women In fact, there are over 70 percent of women working at Wal-Mart, but only a small amount of those women are managers. So, men are holding more management positions than women.
Less dignity and respect to women: Wal-Mart is the nation's largest employer of women, but unfortunately they are being treated without dignity and respect. So it seems then that discrimination is a big problem at Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart wants to avoid lawsuits they need to give more job opportunities to women and they should get paid as much as male employees. Even though Wal-Mart is such a successful company, they can do better if they put a stop to discrimination for it will save them money on lawsuits. In fact, Wal-Mart recently introduced workplace diversity initiatives, intended to prevent further gender bias

Conclusion
As Wal-Mart is not just a threat to the standard of living of its own employees. It damages the standard of living of numerous others in the economy.
In some cases, it forces the closure of better paying firms. Business Week estimates for every WM supercenter that opens, two other supermarkets will close.

Team
Muthu Swamy

Sidarth Ramesh
Fazer Vinodh Abernesh Justin