Wal-Mart and Healthcare

Paper Summary:

This paper examines Wal-Mart's controversial healthcare plan that it offers its employees. The paper states that although Wal-Mart is an industry leader and employer, it does not offer its many working class employees viable healthcare. The author further discusses the numerous lawsuits brought by employees against the chain. The author concludes that Wal-Mart needs to understand that it has some responsibilities that come with being a billion dollar business.

From the Paper:

"According to another PBS report, Wal-Mart has claimed that more than 90 percent of its employees have healthcare insurance. This may be true. But the firm agrees that this coverage doesn't necessarily come from Wal-Mart itself. In an interview with Frontline, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Clark said that the company insures 500,000 of Wal-Mart's employees. If we compare this figure with the total number of employees, we can see just how small a percentage is totally covered. Clark further added that 29 percent of Wal-Mart employees are not covered because they were found to be ineligible. Interesting the company fails to mention the reasons behind this ineligibility. The firm has very strict eligibility requirements and only full time workers are covered. Full-time workers are described as those who have worked for six months or more. The high turn over rate has also contributed to the low percentage of employees covered. It is indeed unfortunate that Wal-mart employees have to pay a staggering 33 percent of their wages to participate in company's healthcare plan. This translates into "$30.50 a month for an individual or between $132.50 and $230.50 a month for families." ("Is Wal-Mart good for America?")"

Sample of Sources Used:

• UFCW report: "Wal-Martization of Health care." Retrieved online 22 Jan 2007: http://www.ufcw.org/take_action/walmart_workers_campaign_info/facts_and_figures/walmartonbenefits.cfm
• "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?" Retrieved online 22 Jan 2007: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/transform/protest.html
• Reed Abelson. Wal-Mart's Health Care Struggle Is Corporate America's, Too. October 29, 2005. New York Times
• Ehrenreich, B. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America (2001). New York: Metropolitan Books

More papers on Wal-Mart and Healthcare:

• Term Paper # 98925 : "Wal-Mart"
• Persuasive Essay # 119543 : "Walmart: An Economic Wet Blanket"
• Argumentative Essay # 108225 : "Wal-Mart's Health Insurance Policies"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: