...Women vs. Wal Mart Ethical Case Analysis Key Ethical Issue The main ethical issue in the Women and Wal-Mart case is its discrimination of women in the workforce, and how they go hand in hand with the utility, rights, and justice arguments of discrimination. The Utilitarian arguments claim that discrimination leads to inefficient use of human resources. This applies to the Wal-Mart case because they were not getting full use out of their employees because they would often times promote a man instead of a woman, even if she had more experience and was better qualified. Studies conducted by a statistical expert that the six women hired, Richard Drogin, revealed that a much larger amount of men were receiving promotions at every level in the Wal-Mart workplace, even though women’s performance ratings were higher than men’s. Wal-Mart was clearly not promoting or giving benefits to these women because of their gender, and they were stuck underneath the “glass ceiling.” The Rights-based arguments claim that discrimination violates basic human rights. In this case, Wal-Mart didn’t view women to be equal to men because men were receiving the promotions when it should have been the women, as stated before. A Kantian argument also states that a person would not want to be discriminated on the basis of their characteristics that do not affect the person’s ability to perform a job, in this case, being a woman. Wal-Mart is not viewing their male and female employees as equals, as...
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...Wal-Mart and the Ethical Dilemma Presented to: Dr. Robert D. Gulbro In completion of MGT 5013 Organizational Behavior Florida Institute of Technology By: Felix Knight Wal-Mart was started by Sam Walton in 1962; the first store was in Rogers Arkansas. By the beginning of the 1970’s, Wal-Mart had grown to 1,500 employees and 44.2 million dollars in sales. The company also went public in 1970. The company’s growth continued throughout the decade, with the employee count reaching 21,000 by 1980 with $1.2 billion dollars in sales. Wal-Mart made its first acquisition, buying 16 Mohr-Value stores. In 1983, the first Sam’s Club warehouse opened followed by the first Wal-Mart Supercenter in 1988. By the end of the decade, the company had over 1,402 Wal-Mart and 123 Sam’s Club locations and $26 billion dollars in sales – an increase of 2,600% over the decade. Today, Wal-Mart is the world’s largest retailer, with $405 billion in sales, over 4,300 stores, and 2.1 million employees (Duke, 2010, p. 0). One hundred shares of Wal-Mart stock purchased for $1,650 when the company went public would have grown to 204,800 shares worth over $10.1 million as of July 9, 2010 for a return of 613,431% (“Dividends & stock splits”, 2010, July 9) (“Wal-Mart (WMT) stock quote” 2010, July 9). Daft (2008) stated “Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the United States” (p. 129). Wal-Mart’s 2010 annual report provides the mission statement of the...
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...The Women VS. Wal-Mart By This case study is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of MGT412 Touro University International College of Business Administration Module 1 INSTRUCTOR: The Women VS. Wal-Mart Gender or “sex-based” discrimination has been in existence for the past two decades. Many companies, employers, and analysts would argue that gender discrimination claims are exaggerated or taking advantages of the fact that so many pursue claims against companies. Most gender or “sex-based” discrimination claims are based on job promotions that were denied, unprofessional comments that were said to them or even something as simple as poor treatment in the workplace. In the paper I will be covering what legal statute(s) gave the EEOC the jurisdiction to prosecute the case, some new information concerning Wal-Mart since the start of the class-action suit and how private-sector organizations can help protect themselves from future claims of illegal discrimination. Federal laws were passed in the 1960s to help women have equal treatment within the workplace and are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Two specific federal laws that I want to bring up are the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC were given jurisdiction to prosecute Dukes vs. Wal-mart case based off of those laws. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 1981 et seq...
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...Timeline 2001 - Betty Dukes, a Wal-Mart greeter at a store in Pittsburg, California, and five current or former female employees filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco, accusing the retailer of discriminating against its female employees by paying them less than men and giving them fewer promotions. 2003 - Attorneys for the women filed a motion for class certification and asked the judge to rule the case can go to trial on behalf of all women who worked for Wal-Mart in the United States at any time since December 26, 1998, a group believed to exceed 1.5 million current and former female employees. 2004 - U.S. District Judge Martin Jenkins ruled the lawsuit can proceed as a nationwide class covering the women who worked at 3,400 stores, but did not decide the merits of the lawsuit. 2010 - A U.S. appeals court based in San Francisco, by a 6-5 vote, upheld the judge's conclusion that it would be better to handle the case as a single group rather than requiring individual lawsuits to be litigated. 2010 - Wal-Mart appealed to the Supreme Court. It argued claims involving current and former workers, hourly employees and salaried managers and stores across the country were too different to proceed as one class-action lawsuit. 2010 - The Supreme Court said it would decide whether the class-action certification violated federal rules for such lawsuits, one of the most important employment discrimination class-action cases in decades. 2011 - The Supreme Court heard...
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...Wal-Mart Inc. Ethical Treatment of Employees Prepared for Wal-Mart Corporation Prepared by Alexander W. Nash April 26, 2011 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARYiii INTRODUCTION1 ANALYSIS OF WAL-MART’S ETHICAL TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES 2 THE COMPANY: WAL-MART INC.2 THE PRACTICE: ETHICAL TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES 2 WAL-MART’S ETHCIAL TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES3 RECOMENDATIONS5 EVEN PAY SCALE 5 MORE ACCOUNTABILITY5 CHINA’S LABOR LAWS AND CONDITIONS 6 CONCLUSION6 Executive Summary Wal-Mart is one of the biggest empires in the world. It dominates many markets by providing many different products for the lowest prices guaranteed. You can’t go anywhere without seeing a Wal-Mart, which has more revenue than the entire workforce of Utah. It has revolutionized the world or commerce, through implementing state of the art inventory tracking systems and mastering logistics. Many argue that it has become so successful and powerful from being unethical with its employees. Wal-Mart is currently involved in the largest job discrimination class action lawsuit in U.S. history affecting about 1.5 million women. Wal-Mart also has lawsuits concerning wage and hour violations, executives also admitted to being told by superiors to not pay overtime. It continues to have problems with its labor force in china, forcing them to work seven days a week and paying them less than China’s minimum wage, and having employees work with dangerous chemicals without the “right to know”, as its...
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...Integrating Values-The Legality, Morality, and Social Responsibility of Wal-Mart’s Response to Sex Discrimination and Pay Lawsuits Nova Southeastern University MGT5015_Legal, Ethical, Social Value Business September 9, 2012 We certify that we are the author of this paper and that any assistance received in its preparation is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the paper. We have also cited any sources from which were used data, ideas of words, whether quoted or paraphrased. I also certify that this paper was prepared by us specifically for this course. Table of Contents Abstract (Natalie Rondon) 3 Introduction ( Natalie Rondon) 4 Legal Section (Franciso Amado) 5 Ethic Section Utilitarian Ethical Analysis (Kyle Lozito) 8 Kantian Ethical Analysis (Christian Varillas) 14 Additional Ethical Analysis (Natalie Rondon). 18 Social Responsibility Section (Shirley Simmonds). 20 Conclusion (Natalie Rondon). 25 References. 26 Abstract This is a library research paper on the integrating values of Wal-Marts to sex discrimination and pay lawsuits that Wal-Mart has encountered over the years. The paper will discuss the legality of the situation and how Wal-Mart might be able to fix the issues that they are having. The paper will also discuss Utilitarian ethical analysis, Kantian ethical analysis and Socrates and the Socratic method. It will go into detail if Wal-Mart as a company has acted ethical or moral against its employees based on the ethical analysis...
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...WOMEN VERSE WAL-MART Women Verse Wal-Mart, the Largest Class Action Lawsuit in History Jeremy Banks LEG100 October 31, 2012 Professor, Harden WOMEN VERSE WAL-MART Abstract Women nationwide have joined a class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart. The women are suing based on gender bias. They claim men are promoted faster and receive higher pay. This is especially noticed in the management ranks. The lawsuit could have been avoided with better training within the company. If the company trained managers in different or better ways of evaluation, the situation would have been avoided. The other training managers need is that is documentation. Everything that happens to an employee from the date of hire to the end of employment should be documented and kept on file. The awareness of managers of federal and state statutes will allow them to forego any further such lawsuits. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) affords managers and companies ways to avoid going to trial. This allows settlements to be negotiated, mediated, or arbitrated instead of having a court appearance. WOMEN VERSE WAL-MART Women Verse Wal-Mart, the Largest Class Action Lawsuit in History As of October 1, 2012 over one million women across all fifty states are suing Wal-Mart for gender bias. Despite race, religion, or education women are tired of being treated as inferior employees. Women feel Wal-Mart has promoted men more often and pays those men at higher...
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... Globally, Wal-Mart is the second largest revenue generating company. It is surprising to see so many discriminating issues within the company. Women working for the company are consistently treated unfairly, yet other issues exist. It is as if Wal-Mart has fallen into the negative economic routine. The company is guilty of everyday social discrimination; gender discrimination is just one main focus of our discussion. The affects of gender discrimination affect how women are treated, their income, and company policies. Women’s Rights have been an ongoing issue since the beginning of man. It wasn’t until the Women’s Rights Movement that equality began to present itself, amongst women in the workplace. Individuals face many moments in their lives dealing with ethical issues of what is right and wrong. One major ethical issue that the United States has faced in its young history is the fight over equality and discrimination. The evolution of equality in America has been truly substantial, but unfortunately the civilians in our country have yet to overcome all discrimination. There are many laws in this country to prevent workplace discrimination. These laws are designed to protect employees and applicants from unethical treatment. A current ethical issue in the business world today is that of a class action lawsuit against the largest retail store chain in America, Wal-Mart. “The gender discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart is over ten years old...
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...Gender Discrimination – Wal-Mart Employment Practices! MBA 6241 Human Resource Management in 21st Century Knowledge Situational Analysis Final Action Plan Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….…..3 Executive summary………………………………………………………………………............3 Wal-Mart’s Profile……..………………..…………………………………………..….…3 Wal-Mart’s Vision…………………………………………………………………..…….4 Wal-Mart’s Mission………………………………………………………………….……4 Human Resource Profile…………………………………………………………………..5 Economic context…………………………………………………………………………5 Political and regulatory context…………………………………………………………...6 Competitor analysis……………………………………………………………………….6 Cultural Context…………………………………………………………………………………7 Measuring organizational Culture…………………………………………………………7 Action Plan/Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………...11 Surveying members to identify organizational cultures and norms……………………11 Install executive CTC HR professional as member of Board of Directors………………13 Develop long term HR strategies and policies for growth of CTC………………………15 References……………………………………………………………………………………….18 Introduction Gender discrimination has been widely debated everywhere from the boardroom to the courtroom. In spite of the laws and regulations that exist to prohibit gender discrimination, it continues to be a common practice within many organizations. Throughout history, women have been relegated to administrative positions, such as typists, secretaries, receptionists and the like. Although...
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...The Buzz on Wal-Mart Wal-mart is a store where millions of people love to shop. You see commercials all over the T.V that advertise their many low prices, their many holiday accessories, and their “save time, save money” deal. Wal-mart is loved by many shoppers around the world including me. You would think that Wal-mart had it all together behind the scenes, but there are so many controversies that Wal-mart is up against, that if it gets too out of hand it might just make Wal-mart the least store shopped. The reason why Wal-mart is so popular is because of their low prices and most of all their convenience. Wal-mart is very convenient, whether its clothes, food, foot wear, technology, things for the home, entertainment, or things for your car, Wal-mart supplies it. Another reason being as to why Wal-mart is convenient is because they have stores set up everywhere you turn around. In the state of Kentucky alone, there are Wal-mart stores located in almost every county. Wal-mart has been a life saver for most people because many of the people that go to Wal-mart have a family, and with Wal-mart’s low prices and great deals on certain things, they make shopping easier for an individual of the working class. I have been a shopper of Wal-mart for about 7 years in counting and I love shopping there. If it is not every day, it is every other day that I am there getting things that I need, things that I want, or simply just browsing around the store...
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...Wal-Mart, an Organizational Analysis Kenneth Russell Strayer University Dr. Mary Tranquillo Bus. 310 November 6, 2012 Wal-Mart, an Organizational Analysis Introduction I will thoroughly discuss in detail the operation of Wal-Mart, the company’s strategies, legal concerns and various challenges the company faces. In addition, I will address any current (or anticipated) human resource issues concerning the expanding into the international market and make recommendations on how the organization can leverage its human resources to come out on top in a highly competitive market. Wal-Mart, an Organizational Analysis Describe the nature of the organization, its size, and any specific human resource challenges it faces. One of the most recognized retail chains around the world, Wal-Mart is an American public multinational corporation running chains of large discount and warehouse stores. Considered the largest public corporation when ranked by revenue, Wal-Mart boasts a staggering 2 million employees worldwide with approximately 1.4 million in the United States. (Wal-Mart, 2012). Wal-Mart is known for their brand of low prices and high volume which dominates the retail market. Wal-Mart’s mission statement and slogan sums it up in one simple phrase: “We save people money, so they can live better”. Wal-Mart’s idea and strategy is targeted at offering consumers a variety of name brand goods at competitive prices. Wal-Mart has over 10, 300 retail stores in 27 countries...
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...Joann Juarez BUS 18A Project Gender Discrimination at Wal-Mart Many women may believe that for one reason or another they have or are being discriminated. Gender discrimination has always been a complicated and difficult problem for women in the workplace. Even though women’s right has come a long way, some believe they are being discriminated from promotions or pay raises. Currently there is a gender discrimination case filed against Wal-Mart. Dukes vs. Wal-Mart is a case where a female feels that she is being unfairly discriminate in workplace because she is a woman. The Dukes vs Wal-Mart case is a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco that began in June 2001. The plaintiff brought the suit against Wal-Mart and Sam’s club alleging pay and promotion discrimination. Betty Dukes, the name plaintiff in the case, join Wal-Mart in 1994 and right away she knew she wanted to stay and grow with the company. Dukes started to notice that available job were rarely post and the store did not have a process for career advancement. She continued to ask her manager for promotion or more responsibility but was continually denied. In 1998, she began receiving retaliatory coaching after a manager claim she always returned late from break and lunches. She notices a lot of male employees were also late coming back from break and lunches but were never discipline. In 1999 after returning from lunch she was demoted from...
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...Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. vs Dukes The case of Wal-Mart vs Duke which was filed in court June 19, 2001 (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, 2017) and it was granted certiorari by the United States Supreme Court for review where the females received billions for the company. There were five other women with Betty Dukes, who started the case. The plaintiff stated that the company was engaged in discrimination against female workers under the violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964. This law was passed by Congress to end racial discrimination, including women so they could feel protected on their job from discrimination. (Brown, 2014) The company did not want to give females promotions, pay decisions, job assignments and did not want to train the females, because the supervisor said that this was not a place or job for females. Wal-Mart now appeals to the Supreme Court, arguing that the class certification does not meet the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a). “Wal-Mart also claims that class certification was improper under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b) (2) because the employees primarily seek monetary compensation in the form of back pay, and Rule 23(b) (2) does not authorize the certification of claims seeking monetary relief.” (Rumpf, 2011)...
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...Court Systems and Jurisdiction—Supreme Court Sides With Wal-Mart Question 1 The processes that this case has to go through to get to the Supreme Court are as follows: The plaintiff has to file a document at the clerk of the court stating the reason plaintiff is suing defendant and actions the court should take, then a copy of this complaint and summons are delivered to the defendant. The defendant will now file an answer to agree or disagree with the complaint, information about the case is exchange between both parties and the case will be tried before a Judge or Jury. The judge makes decision or gives the jury verdict and the losing party may accept or appeal the lower court decision at a higher court. Appeals Court reviews the report of the lower court and affirms reverse or remands the case back to lower court. The plaintiffs were not happy about the ruling of the Appeal Court so she files a petition with Supreme Court to review decision of lower court records. Supreme Court decided to hear the case, listing to both parties’ attorneys, looked at the evidences presented, and make their judgment in favor of Wal-Mart. Question 2 Majority opinion can be said to be an opinion or conclusion agreed to by all the presiding judges over a case. The ruling of the Supreme Court Justices over Wal-Mart case can be said to be majority opinion, “writing for the five-member court majority, Justice A. Scalia said that in order to sue as a single class, the women would have...
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...Diversity in the Workplace / Wal- Mart Case Shirley Nolan October 30, 2011 Class #: 1109MGMT Section: 610514 Turnitin Score: 14% This Research paper is about diversity in the workplace. It also talks about how management handles diversity in the workplace and how they view it. The case that I will be talking about is the Wal-Mart case. This case will also show you how leadership played a very important role in this case when it comes to the managers that work for this company. This case had a big in pack on the retail organizations around the world. Woman that works for Wal-Mart are not given the same advances that the males are in the same position in this company. I also talk about some suggestions that managers at Wal-Mart could have done different to stop this case from going to the Supreme Court on June 20, 2001. One of the most significant issues that management faces today is diversity in the workplace. “Diversity means employing people without discrimination on the basis of gender, age and ethnic or racial background.” (Graves, 1993, p .4). Diversity has important implications for the values of an organization’s culture and for organizational effectiveness. Management is the process by which a person in a supervisory role focuses on planning...
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