Walmart and Women
The majority of Walmart Associates (57%) are women,[1] yet the company has been the target of repeated lawsuits alleging gender discrimination - particularly around pay, promotions and safety accomodations at the company.[2]
Contents
Walmart vs. Dukes
Walmart spent years defending itself in the largest class action gender discrimination lawsuit in history, Dukes v. Walmart. The plaintiffs alleged Walmart discriminated against women in promotions, pay, and job assignments. [3]
Ms. Dukes was a Walmart associate from Pittsburgh, California. Her suit alleged that Walmart illegally discriminated against her by repeatedly denying her application for promotions and by retaliating against her when she continued to request these opportunities.[4]
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit in 2011 for technical reasons but without issuing a decision on the merits. Subsequent suits with smaller classes have been filed in California, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin and other states.[5]
Female Associates Paid Less Than Men
Walmart’s low wages are well-documented.[6] Women make up the majority of Walmart associates [7] and, as a result, are the most directly impacted by the company’s low wages. In fact, 57% of Walmart’s workforce is made up of women. [8]
Although Walmart fails to disclose current figures on differences in pay for men vs. women, a 2003 found that female Walmart employees at all levels earned less than their male counterparts.[9] Women at Walmart earned $5,200 less per year than men, on average. Women who worked in hourly positions earned $1,100 less than men in the same position. Women in salaried positions earned $14,500 less than men in the same position.[10]
According to the most recent data available, in 2012, only 42% of Walmart officials and managers were women, despite previous scrutiny over pay and promotions and the fact that women make up considerably more of the workforce at Walmart.[11] Women only hold 28% of the top positions at the company [12]
Family unfriendly scheduling
Members of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) have consistently raised the issue of inadequate hours and unpredictable scheduling.[13] OUR Walmart members and others have noted that Walmart’s low wages often make it impossible to make ends meet, especially for associates who are only given part time hours. At the same time, the lack of predictable schedules can make finding additional work, childcare, doctor’s appointments and other parental responsibilities unworkable.[14]
In addition, Walmart’s insufficient sick days policy also makes it hard for working mothers to care for sick children.[15]
Walmart Moms Winning Change at Company
Under pressure from mothers working in their stores and women’s groups, Walmart announced in April, 2014 that it would alter its policy around accommodating pregnant women who work at Walmart. Walmart reworked its policy so that women with pregnancy-related complications could be considered “temporary disabled” and would be eligible for “reasonable accommodation.”[16]
The change in policy comes after an intense mobilization effort on behalf of pregnant Walmart workers. Members of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) initially began discussing the troubles they had during their pregnancies online. The group later came together as “Respect the Bump” and sent a letter to Walmart’s headquarters about how pregnant women and mothers were being treated. A group of Walmart workers who are also shareholders put a resolution on the ballot of Walmart’s 2014 shareholders’ meeting calling for a change in pregnancy policies.[17] Shortly thereafter, Walmart overhauled their pregnancy policy, avoiding the publicity that would have come with the shareholders resolution. [18]
Workers Push for Additional Improvement on Pregnancy Policy
Walmart workers and women’s advocates are continuing to push for further improvement,pointing out that the policy would not necessarily provide accommodation for women with “normal” pregnancies. Writing in the Huffington Post, law professor Deborah Widiss argued,[19]
…. the relatively narrow wording Walmart has chosen for its policy suggests the company might not grant such requests if made by women with "healthy" pregnancies. This would be unfortunate -- and also often illegal. Walmart should revise its new policy to make clear that it will provide medically recommended accommodations for all its pregnant employees.
Walmart and the Walton Family Disproportionately Fund Candidates Who Vote Against Women
The Walmart PAC and Waltons spend millions each year on politics. And both give disproportionately to candidates who vote to weaken women's rights. Among candidates with scores on the American Association of University Women’s 2012 Congressional scorecard, the majority of the Walmart PAC and Waltons’ contributions went to those with scores of 25 and below out of 100.[20]
In fact, over that time period they gave over $1.5 million just to candidates with scores of 0. The scorecard factors in a range of issues including the reauthorization of the Violence against Women Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, Planned Parenthood funding, and education.[21]
While Walmart was defending itself in court and undertaking a major PR e-ffort to improve its image with women, it was also spending millions lobbying the federal government on issues including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, paycheck fairness, and paid sick leave.[22]
Articles and Resources
Related SourceWatch articles
External Resources
External Articles
Nina Martin "The Impact and Echoes of the Walmart Discrimination Case" ProPublica September 27, 2013
Karen McVeigh and Dominic Rushe "Walmart Moms Walk Off the Job in Protest at Pay and Conditions" The Guardian, June 4, 2014.
References
- ↑ Walmart Stores "Our People" Accessed June 25, 2014.
- ↑ Nina Martin "The Impact and Echoes of the Walmart Discrimination Case" ProPublica September 27, 2013
- ↑ BETTY DUKES, PATRICIA SURGESON, EDITH ARANA, DEBORAH GUNTER and CHRISTINE KWAPNOSKI, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. WAL-MART STORES, INC., Defendant. "Plaintiff's Fourth Amended Complaint" U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Walmart Class Website "Walmart Class" Accessed June 26, 2014
- ↑ Susan Berfield "More Than Half of Walmart's Hourly Workers Make Less Than $25,000/Year" Business Week October 23, 2013
- ↑ Walmart Stores "Our People" Accessed June 25, 2014.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Richard Drogin, PhD "Statistical Analysis of Gender Patterns in Wal-mart Workforce" Drogin, Kakigi & Associates December, 2013.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Walmart Stores "Walmart Workforce Diversity 2012" 2012.
- ↑ Walmart Stores "Walmart Diversity and Inclusion Report" 2013.
- ↑ OUR Walmart "Petition: Walmart Stop Cutting Our Hours" CoWorker.org Accessed June 25, 2014.
- ↑ Press Release "Workers with Just Hours Campaign Protest Underemployment at NRF During Bill Simon Speech" Retail Action Project. January 11, 2013
- ↑ Katie Bethell "[http://www.momsrising.org/blog/wal-marts-sick-sickdays-policy/ Wal-Mart’s sick sick days policy.” MomsRising.org. December 13, 2009.
- ↑ Lydia Depillis "Under Pressure, Walmart Upgrades Its Policy for Helping Pregnant Workers" Washington Post. April 5, 2014.
- ↑ Making Change at Walmart "Moms Take on Walmart And Win" Walmart Watch Blog. April 7, 2014.
- ↑ Lydia Depillis "Under Pressure, Walmart Upgrades Its Policy for Helping Pregnant Workers" Washington Post. April 5, 2014.
- ↑ Deborah Widiss "How Walmart's 'Support' for Pregnant Employees Falls Short" Huffington Post April 21, 2014
- ↑ Making Change at Walmart "Women's Issues" ChangeWalmart.org Accessed June 27, 2014
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
