Junha Park

PHL 209
Case study : Walmarts women
In this case study, I will be talking about the issue in wall-mart that had discrimination problem
against female workers and what should be done about it.
The differences in economic opportunity distribution between women and men within
occupations have never been a model of equality in America or many parts of the European
countries. This job disparity continues to be a important feature of the current labor market, as
shown by the recent allegations against WalMart. WalMart stores, the worlds biggest retailer,
owns more than 4,000 stores, including 1,475discount stores 1750 WalMart Supercenter
combination discount and grocery stores and 540Sams Club Warehouse stores. With close to
two million employees worldwide, WalMart is the biggest employment provider in the world.
The company is famous for its strong and distinctive corporate culture, which it actively
promotes. New employees are given videos, lectures and literature on WalMarts culture or the
Three Basic Beliefs, Respect for the Individual, Service to Customers and Strive for Excellence.
Managers get continuing lessons and impart these lessons to subordinates and employees are
rewarded when they demonstrate a strong commitment to it. Some of the companys cultural
traditions are male-oriented where by senior male managers attend an annual corporate
retreat, including fishing and hunting. Though WalMart suffered lots of lawsuits which included
child-labor, illegal immigrant workers, failure to pay over time charges the recent and major law
suit they are facing now is the discrimination against female employees in promotions, pay,
management training and job assignments. It was, therefore, a noteworthy event in June 2004
when a federal judge expanded a lawsuit filed by six California women to a class action. The
case has now grown to cover 1.6 million women WalMart workers, employed nationwide since
1988, making it, by far, the largest class action in U.S. history.

What financial impact do you think lawsuit could potentially have on WalMart?
If the law suit was successful the company would have to pay all the compensation amount
which was around 86 million dollars to its entire 1.6 million female employees .Which in short
would be a big blow to the companys financials, and also with the deteriorating image caused
by the issue they might possibly lose out on an considerable amount of customers leading to
further financial implications. It would also result in higher prices in the store because the
company would try to make up for all the loss incurred cause of the particular suit.

What are the major moral complaints of the females suing WalMart? Do you believe these
moral complaints are justified? Why?
The major complaints launched by the women were that the company discriminated against
female employees in promotions pay, management training and job assignments. They also
stated that there was a pay gap between men and women where two people of different
gender on the same positions were paid differently and women were often paid fairly lower
than the men.
I think that these moral complaints can be justified. If you are in a job and you see other
coworkers getting hired whom are less qualified than you are then I think that the complaints
are valid. If more than one complaint is being made about the company then its an issue. The
complaints are justified if you apply for a position or inquire about a position and the company
doesnt give you an opportunity but then turn around and hire a male who is less qualified than
you are.

What, if anything, do you think WalMart should do to correct these discrepancies? Should the
company institute an affirmative action promotion program for female employees? If so,
what should this program be like?
The problem was caused by the company, so definitely they have to find a solution and try to
correct their mistakes, and the company should institute an affirmative action promotion
program for female employees. One program that can be applied is that Women could enter
salaried management jobs without having to relocate their homes.