Phooey on Walmart
For reasons I won't share here, I have engaged in a personal boycott of Walmart for the last several years. My feelings toward the company turned a bit more positive last year when I learned store employees received holiday bonuses. Today, though, my negative feelings toward Walmart have returned. A story on Friday's Good Morning America revealed that Walmart makes it difficult for it's workers to call in sick when either they or their children are ill (Walmart Defends Sick Leave Policy Despite H1N1 Fears).
Walmart's sick leave policy was the subject of a report issued by the National Labor Committee. The report says that Walmart penalizes store employees who call in sick by giving them demerits and making them pay for their first day out sick with either a personal or vacation day. They are also given a third option of not getting paid. For someone who might barely be scraping by, that is hardly a real option. In response to the story, Walmart sent a memo to human resource managers that states no one will be fired for getting H1N1 (swine flu). I don't think that offers enough reassurance to employees.
In light of the state of affairs in this country, high unemployment along with an increase in employment lawsuits, companies should develop policies based on 80% of behaviors and preferred behaviors in the workplace and NOT the 20% who are not compliant. In the long-run, their employment policies and treatment of employees will become a liability and competitive disadvantage. As usual, they won’t figure this out until it’s too late.
I’ve worked for Wal-Mart and it isn’t the most glamorous job, but it pays the bills. Are you saying that personal or vacation days are one category? I think many companies now consider personal days and sick days the same thing.