Walmart = Wankers

Not that you didn't know this already, but the NYT has fresh new evidence to that effect. Only yesterday Wally's World had announced a brand new PR campaign including enhanced health benefits, support for raising the minimum wage, and greener corporate practices - but then, oops! Looks like it was more a PR stunt than an actual move forward (surprise, surprise).

An internal memo sent to Wal-Mart's board of directors proposes numerous ways to hold down spending on health care and other benefits while seeking to minimize damage to the retailer's reputation. Among the recommendations are hiring more part-time workers and discouraging unhealthy people from working at Wal-Mart.

In the memorandum, M. Susan Chambers, Wal-Mart's executive vice president for benefits, also recommends reducing 401(k) contributions and wooing younger, and presumably healthier, workers by offering education benefits. The memo voices concern that workers with seven years' seniority earn more than workers with one year's seniority, but are no more productive.

To discourage unhealthy job applicants, Ms. Chambers suggests that Wal-Mart arrange for "all jobs to include some physical activity (e.g., all cashiers do some cart-gathering)." [More]

Boy. Just when you think they can't get any more disgusting ... Shakes Sis has an excellent rant on this topic if you wanna get fired up.