• Logistics Today has a very interesting piece about the efforts Wal-Mart is expending in China to be successful and dominant in that enormous and expanding marketplace.
Especially impressive is the training programs being developed for the company’s Chinese employees, developing computer-based training programs and even starting its own Master of Business Administration program there – moves that it knows it needs to make in order to have a strong in-store employee base.
Wal-Mart also reportedly is putting a real emphasis on both fresh food and fast food, understanding that this one-two punch will get people into the store and give it an accepted role in local communities. These aren’t necessarily approaches that have worked in other markets, but Wal-Mart seems to understand that success in China will require both a specific vision and a willingness to reinvent itself where necessary.
• Business Week reports that “a judge approved a class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. by employees in Pennsylvania who say the company pressured them to work off the clock, claims that mirror those in suits filed around the country.
“A California jury last month awarded Wal-Mart workers $172 million for illegally denied lunch breaks, while Wal-Mart settled a similar Colorado case for $50 million.”
As many as 150,000 past or current employees could be included in the class action.
Wal-Mart is considering an appeal of the class action decision.
Especially impressive is the training programs being developed for the company’s Chinese employees, developing computer-based training programs and even starting its own Master of Business Administration program there – moves that it knows it needs to make in order to have a strong in-store employee base.
Wal-Mart also reportedly is putting a real emphasis on both fresh food and fast food, understanding that this one-two punch will get people into the store and give it an accepted role in local communities. These aren’t necessarily approaches that have worked in other markets, but Wal-Mart seems to understand that success in China will require both a specific vision and a willingness to reinvent itself where necessary.
• Business Week reports that “a judge approved a class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. by employees in Pennsylvania who say the company pressured them to work off the clock, claims that mirror those in suits filed around the country.
“A California jury last month awarded Wal-Mart workers $172 million for illegally denied lunch breaks, while Wal-Mart settled a similar Colorado case for $50 million.”
As many as 150,000 past or current employees could be included in the class action.
Wal-Mart is considering an appeal of the class action decision.
- KC's View:
