Wal-Mart's chief Scott is mean and a threating bully to his managers

[donsu]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/17/business/17walmart.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

On Private Web Site, Wal-Mart Chief Talks Tough

In a confidential, internal Web site for Wal-Mart's managers, the company's chief executive, H. Lee Scott Jr., seemed to have a rare, unscripted moment when one manager asked him why "the largest company on the planet cannot offer some type of medical retirement benefits?"

Mr. Scott first argues that the cost of such benefits would leave Wal-Mart at a competitive disadvantage but then, clearly annoyed, he suggests that the store manager is disloyal and should consider quitting.

-snip-

But its tone is at times biting. In his response to the store manager who asked about retiree health benefits, Mr. Scott wrote: "Quite honestly, this environment isn't for everyone. There are people who would say, 'I'm sorry, but you should take the risk and take billions of dollars out of earnings and put this in retiree health benefits and let's see what happens to the company.' If you feel that way, then you as a manager should look for a company where you can do those kinds of things."

Mona Williams, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said Mr. Scott responded so sharply because of the manager's sarcastic tone. The question, she said, indicated the manager failed to understand how competitive retailing is and would not be able to convey that to his subordinates.
-snip-
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sing song: Mona is a suck up woman, Mona is a suck up woman

"those kinds of things"

"his subordinates"

they are not employees, they are subordinates.

wishing Scott a come down.

[Orrin_73]

1. Unbelievable, this the largest retailer in the world

Some european retailers are mimicking Wal-Mart. Here in Holland the German retailers Aldi and Lidl are very notorious. They apply many such rules Wal-Mart uses like low wages, no freetime, sometimes no vacation and very authoritarian managers. Some employees have sued Lidl.

[Skidmore]

2. Why should a company with large profit margins

be deemed to be at a competitive disadvantage? How much profit is necessary to be a success? I wonder if Mr. Scott, as a member of management, has medical retirement benefits as part of his package? How does WallyWorld compensate its executives? What kind of bennies do they have? I'm sure they are better compensated that the average associate.

[Orrin_73]

4. Well any funds diverted to medical retirement benefits means

less pay for him. Therefore he is against it, competitive disadvantage is just plain b*llsh*t. He is just not willing to talk about it openly!.

[Kingshakabobo]

3. No surprise here. There was an article posted on DU a couple weeks ago...

regarding how they treat their vendors. The CEO of a lawn-mower vendor described that the waiting room and office furniture consisted of undersized cheap patio furniture to maximize the "belittling effect."

[donsu]

5. I once did some temp. wk. for a lawyer who arranged his desk so that

a large, bright window was behind him. he said it was to un nerve his clients. at that time he was running for a judgeship and I wished him ill.

"belittling effect" made me think of it. this lawyer was a Rep.