Fellow employers dont give Wal-Mart much support

Asked whether the giant, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart deserves the bad publicity it often gets in the news media, 44 percent of a recent HR.BLR.com poll said, ìYes, because it doesnít behave as the rest of us do.î However another 32 percent were a bit more sympathetic, saying: ìNo, it gets targeted unfairly because of its size.î

Meanwhile, another 13 percent said, ìYes, because bigger employers deserve closer scrutiny. The remaining 11 percent said, ìNo, because employers in general aren’t treated fairly in the news media.î

The online poll at HR.BLR.com, a website for human resources professionals drew 422 votes on Thursday, March 3, and Friday, March 4.

Wal-Mart has been hit in recent years with a variety of well-publicized lawsuits from employees alleging violations of workplace law. And the company stirred controversy recently by negotiating a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor that requires the DOL to give Wal-Mart 15 daysí notice before investigating alleged violations of child labor law.

ìA surprising number of the poll participants have little sympathy for their fellow employer,î observed HR.BLR.com Managing Web Editor Kevin Flood. ìThey seem to be saying, ìWeíre fair and law-abiding employers, and if somebody else canít follow the rules, they deserve whatever they get.íî

Business and Legal Reports, the parent company of HR.BLR.com, has prepared a special report to help employers earn loyalty from their workers, not lawsuits. Itís entitled ìBest Practices in Recruitment and Retentionî and can be downloaded at http://www.blr.com/82008400/PRS5