Shameful

One of those pesky “internal memos” came to see the light of day over at the Wal*Mart offices and now someone has to do some explaining. What’s to explain? It’s simply the Wal*Mart way…

In the memorandum, M. Susan Chambers, Wal-Mart's executive vice president for benefits, recommended reducing 401(k) contributions and recruiting younger, healthier, workers by offering them education benefits. The memo notes a concern that workers with seven years' seniority earn more than workers with one year's seniority, but are no more productive.

Ms. Chambers recommends hiring more part-time workers and discouraging unhealthy people from working at Wal-Mart.

Ms. Chambers suggests that Wal-Mart arrange for "all jobs to include some physical activity (e.g., all cashiers do some cart-gathering)." This would presumably discourage any unhealthy job applicants,

It was acknowledged by Ms. Chambers that 46 percent of the children of Wal-Mart's 1.33 million United States employees are uninsured or on Medicaid.

"We are investing in our benefits that will take even better care of our associates," she said. "Our benefit plan is known today as being generous." Known? Known where? Perhaps it would be considered generous if this were a third world country.