NEWS
July 2, 2009
Four years ago, when Maryland legislators approved what became known as the Wal-Mart bill - a mandate that would have forced the retailing giant to either pay a minimum amount for employee health benefits or a hefty penalty to the state - it was derided by the company as both bad public policy and illegal. The latter objection proved to be true. It was thrown out by a federal appeals court as a violation of federal law that limits states' ability to regulate employee benefits. But the reasoning behind the proposal was sound: If companies are to compete on a level playing field, how can some be burdened with the obligation of providing increasingly expensive health care insurance while others are not?
NEWS
March 20, 2009
U.S. seeks class action vs. Wal-Mart SAN FRANCISCO: The Obama administration sided with women suing Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for discrimination yesterday, urging a federal appeals court to let current and former workers sue as a group and proceed with the biggest sex-bias case in U.S. history. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rejected Wal-Mart's argument that as many as 2 million workers shouldn't be allowed to seek back pay and punitive damages as a group because that would violate the company's right to defend itself against each worker's claims before a jury.
NEWS
By MarketWatch | March 6, 2009
NEW YORK -U.S. retailers' February sales showed their best performance in five months, aided by pent-up demand for new spring merchandise, and Presidents Day and Valentine's Day sales. Still, the better-than-expected performance didn't mean there's light at the end of the tunnel for retailers in the face of the across-the board consumer cutbacks, analysts said. They said some results were also driven by promotions that hurt profit margins. March sales will likely be negative with a calendar shift of Easter to April, they said.
NEWS
By From Sun news services | January 9, 2009
Economic gloom, as expected, dragged down Christmas sales at retailers throughout the U.S., with discounters like Wal-Mart, luxury vendors like Neiman Marcus and pretty much everybody in between saying that their holiday season results were poorer than expected. In the first wave of what is expected to be a steady flow of bad news from the retail sector in early 2009, individual companies yesterday began reporting December results and announcing steps to cope with the disappointing sales and profits.
NEWS
By Susan Chandler | July 11, 2008
Frugal-minded shoppers spent their tax rebate checks at discount merchants last month, boosting sales at some of the country's largest chains. But they stayed away from higher-priced department stores and specialty stores, causing sales to fall by double-digits at Nordstrom Inc. and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. It was a sign that consumers are confining themselves to spending on the basics, and even then, they are looking for bargains, retail experts...
NEWS
By New York Times News Service | July 2, 2008
A state judge in Minnesota has ruled that Wal-Mart Stores, the discount department store chain, violated state laws on rest breaks and other wage matters more than 2 million times and as a result could face more than $2 billion in fines. The judge has threatened to impose a $1,000 penalty for each violation. The judge also ruled Monday that Wal-Mart owed $6.5 million to 56,000 current and former employees because of contractual violations, including a failure to give workers promised rest breaks at least 1.5 million times.
NEWS
June 15, 2008
Larsen leaving as PSC chief Steven B. Larsen, who took over the Maryland Public Service Commission with a mandate to lower utility bills, is leaving the panel before finishing a yearlong quest to reregulate the industry. He will be replaced by Douglas R.M. Nazarian, a former litigator who joined the PSC as a general counsel last June. Nazarian said he would continue the strategy set by his predecessor. Wal-Mart to pay settlement Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will pay $250,000 to a pharmacy technician who suffered a disability resulting from a gunshot wound and was subsequently fired from one of the company's Harford County stores, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced.
NEWS
May 30, 2008
City officials recognized Wal-Mart yesterday for the company's support of a "Housewarming for the Homeless" drive to assist families who used to live under the Jones Falls Expressway. The Baltimore-Washington stores donated more than $28,000 worth of materials to the campaign, filling a tractor-trailer with such items as refrigerators, mattresses, sheets, blankets, pillows, shower curtains, lamps, bulbs, pots and pans, plates, cups, utensils, toiletries and cleaning supplies, according to city officials.
NEWS
By Ellie Baublitz | April 5, 2008
Police and U.S. Postal officials are investigating several letters sent to Carroll County department stores threatening a shooting incident, authorities said. The Boscov's, Wal-Mart and Target stores in Westminster, as well as Wal-Mart stores in Eldersburg and Hampstead, each received a letter Monday that contained similar threats, said Westminster City Police. As of yesterday, investigators had no more information on the letters or who might have sent them, said Capt. Pete Dantuono of the Westminster police.
NEWS
By Bloomberg News | December 8, 2007
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, is getting back into the Christmas spirit. Two years ago, the discount chain substituted the word holiday for Christmas references and encouraged greeters to do the same, in line with other retailers' removal of Christmas from advertising and stores. Now, after criticism from religious groups, the Bentonville, Ark.-based merchant for the first time has brought Santas into its 3,407 stores. And, after an experiment at a few locations last year, the retailer has set up a Christmas Shop in 1,500 of its outlets.