Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores is the world’s largest retailer, with about 6,775 stores including some 1,075 discount stores, 2,250 combination discount and grocery stores (Wal-Mart Supercenters in the U.S. and ASDA in the U.K.), and 580 warehouse stores (SAM'S CLUB).
Wal-Mart and the 60% of its stores that are in the U.S. employ roughly 1.4 million U.S. workers, making it the largest employer second only to the U.S. federal government.
The company has participated in the HRC Corporate Equality Index survey since 2006 and was rated 40% in 2008.
Non-Discrimination Policies
In 2003, Wal-Mart added “sexual orientation” to its non-discrimination policies. Today, it and Exxon Mobil Corp. are the only two of the Fortune 10 companies that have yet to add “gender identity” to their non-discrimination policies.
- HRC Applauds Wal-Mart’s Addition of Sexual Orientation to Non-Discrimination Policy [PDF] (7/2/2003)
Domestic Partner Benefits
In 2005, Wal-Mart expanded its definition of “immediate family” to include “domestic partnership or civil union recognized by your state or other local law” in its conflict-of-interest policy. Although some soft benefits are available to same-sex partners of employees, the company does not extend health insurance benefits to domestic partners except where required by law.
Employee Resource Group
In 2005, Wal-Mart established Wal-Mart PRIDE for employees in the company’s Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters.
GLBT Community Engagement
Wal-Mart has at times provided financial support to GLBT organizations throughout the U.S., but in July 2007 it announced that it would halt such support.
