Why I don’t shop at Wal-Mart
Everyone has a ethical code, whether imposed externally (from, say, religion) or developed internally. Part of my ethical code doesn't allow me to shop at Wal-Mart.
Now, I couldn't care less if you shop at Wal-Mart. I don't dictate what your conscience allows you to do, nor do I expect you to dictate to me. If you can live with it, fine, but my conscience gets pangs if I shop there. So I don't.
Why?
At a minimum, I won't shop with a company that I actively know engages in unethical conduct. Their own internal memos indicate that they discourage the hiring of "unhealthy" people, which is not only unethical, but illegal. They pretended not to know about the illegal immigrants that their subcontractors hired to clean their stores, and the poor treatment they received. They provide laughable insurance "coverage" to their employees, leaving you and me to pay for their medical care under Medicare and Medicaid.
Also, I don't like companies that disciminate against women. Wal-Mart seems to have a history of it. So I won't shop there.
I don't like bullies. Not only does Wal-Mart bully local communities, they bully their suppliers into cutting their costs to razon-thin profit margins. Sure they don't have to sell to Wal-Mart, but if they want their shareholders to make money, they have to. Companies rarely have the balls to say, "No, we don't want to sell our products in your stores." I'm disappointed that some more social-responsible companies that I purchase from sell ther products at Wal-Mart.
They pay their employees poorly. They have a crappy environmental record. They devestate small local retailers. They knowingly purchase from sweatshops.
And that's why I don't shop at Wal-Mart. Yes, I know other companies do those things, too, and I try not to shop at them, either. But Wal-Mart is the biggie. You do what you like, and so will I.
-------------
Technorati tags: walmart, ethics
Now, I couldn't care less if you shop at Wal-Mart. I don't dictate what your conscience allows you to do, nor do I expect you to dictate to me. If you can live with it, fine, but my conscience gets pangs if I shop there. So I don't.
Why?
At a minimum, I won't shop with a company that I actively know engages in unethical conduct. Their own internal memos indicate that they discourage the hiring of "unhealthy" people, which is not only unethical, but illegal. They pretended not to know about the illegal immigrants that their subcontractors hired to clean their stores, and the poor treatment they received. They provide laughable insurance "coverage" to their employees, leaving you and me to pay for their medical care under Medicare and Medicaid.
Also, I don't like companies that disciminate against women. Wal-Mart seems to have a history of it. So I won't shop there.
I don't like bullies. Not only does Wal-Mart bully local communities, they bully their suppliers into cutting their costs to razon-thin profit margins. Sure they don't have to sell to Wal-Mart, but if they want their shareholders to make money, they have to. Companies rarely have the balls to say, "No, we don't want to sell our products in your stores." I'm disappointed that some more social-responsible companies that I purchase from sell ther products at Wal-Mart.
They pay their employees poorly. They have a crappy environmental record. They devestate small local retailers. They knowingly purchase from sweatshops.
And that's why I don't shop at Wal-Mart. Yes, I know other companies do those things, too, and I try not to shop at them, either. But Wal-Mart is the biggie. You do what you like, and so will I.
-------------
Technorati tags: walmart, ethics
1 And you thought...
Great links, Jessica - thanks for sharing!
You might find *Nickel & Dimed* by Barbara Ehrenreich an interesting read. It's a particularly damning first-hand "expose" that I found very interesting. It was our campus-wide read a couple years back and very thought-provoking.
Post a Comment
<< Home