Menard's – the worst of the worst
Ken Midkiff
While there are a number of businesses (Hobby Lobby, Chick-Fil-A, Home Depot, Cracker Barrel) and others) that progressives/liberals should not support with their money, there is little doubt that the policies and practices of the CEO and founder of Menard's – John Menard of Eau Claire, WI – make Menard's especially repugnant. He exercises absolute control over the Menard's chain, is so far right that he is in real danger of falling off the earth, and makes the others look like pikers.
Consider:
-John Menard gave at least $1 million to the Koch Brothers to help fund their 2011 “Seminar” at a resort near Vail, CO. The invitees are right-wing millionaires and billionaires.
-He gave at least $1.5 million to the campaign to keep Scott Walker as Governor of Wisconsin (during a recall election).
-He has donated an untold amount of money to the Koch Brothers' anti-union foundation. He is listed as a “major donor”.
-Menard's Inc. - controlled by John Menard – has so far given in this current election cycle, 88% of its money to Republicans and only 12% to Democrats. 2012 was even more lopsided: 97% to Republicans and 3% to Dems.
-He was – until a business deal fell through – good friends with Donald J. and Melania Trump. He even – with his “girlfriend” Deb Sands – spent some time at the Trump estate in Palm Beach, FL.
-He was accused in a lawsuit by Melania Trump for, among other things, a “breach of contract”. She won and was allowed to go to New York arbitration where she could seek “...up to $50 million”. Apparently there was a settlement with a non-disclosure agreement as far as could be ascertained the matter never went to arbitration.
-He is so anti-union that a few years ago, in store managers' contracts, if store employees became unionized the manager's salary would be reduced by 60%. A brave manager complained to the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) that ruled such a measure was a violation of labor law and the clause was removed.
-He required all managers to sign a contract with an agreement that any complaint would go to arbitration, not the courts. In addition, even if the manager won, he or she had to pay their own attorney's fees and one-half the cost of the arbitrator. The NRLB also ruled that this was a violation and the agreement was removed from contracts.
-He “fined” managers $100 per minute for opening a store late and $10 for each time there were more than 15 carts in the parking lot. Whether or not this measure is currently enforced was not addressed in any search.
-He and his company were fined $1.7 million by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for 21 violations of environmental law dating back to 1994. The Minnesota Attorney General fined Menard's $2 million for dumping chemicals into state waters. The Minnesota Attorney also charged that Menard's was manufacturing and selling arsenic-tainted mulch (huh?). (The Wisconsin charges and fines ended when Scott Walker was elected).
In addition to his loathsome business practices, John Menard also has a bizarre personal life. In a high public interest issue, he was sued by Tomisue Hilbert, the wife of a longtime business associate, for “...intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, attempted battery, assault, attempted assault...”. In less legal terms, he apparently groped Tomisue's breast and suggested they have sex. This is not his only alleged peccadillo: Lisa Trudeau, the wife of Indianapolis Colts former quarterback Jack Trudeau, filed a lawsuit claiming that she was fired because she rebuffed “...Mr. Menard's...sexual advances...”. While the legal cases have been made public, still others have not. Only John Menard and his victims know what else has occurred.
Making his strange sexual prowess even more remarkable, John Menard is now 76 years old. He is rated by Forbes as the 116th richest person in the world.
If any of the above (discounting his sexual life) is okay with you, then, by all means, shop at Menard's. Otherwise, stay away.