So I just finished reading Robeert Greenwald's Q+A on his upcoming movie, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price.
This question stood out:
Janine Romano: What is, or can be done about the fact that Wal-Mart (at least the ones in Southern California) provides the information and necessary forms for welfare and state assistance to new employees in their orientation packets? It would seem that this is direct evidence that they know they are providing substandard wages etc.. and have no qualms about draining the taxpayers.
[emphasis added]
Robert Greenwald, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price: This was one of the most shocking things I learned. In fact, hearing this was one of the main reasons I decided to do the film. They have absolutely no qualms, and in fact, we discovered through many states across the country, Wal-Mart employees receiving state aid, healthcare, section 9 housing, foodstamps....
It's not entirely clear if Mr. Greenwald was shocked to see so many Wal-Mart workers on public assistance or whether he was actually confirming the premise of the question that Wal-Mart actually puts the forms in their orientation packets. If you ask Wal-Mart this question, here's their answer:
Wal-Mart does not encourage our associates to apply for public assistance.
This doesn't really preclude the premise of the question either. They could hand out the forms and not explicitly encourage them to file. The effect would be the same.
If Greenwald has people on film explaining exactly how Wal-Mart interacts with employees on the question of public assistance, this company is going to be in a world of hurt.
JR