Wal-Mart and Human Resource Management

Essay by dboylesUniversity, Bachelor'sA, October 2008

download word file, 3 pages 3.0

Wal-Mart is a household word in the U.S., but it is quickly becoming a well-noted name in the international realm. Wal-Mart became an international company in 1991 when a Sam's Club opened near Mexico City. In 1993, Wal-Mart International was created to oversee the growing opportunities for the company worldwide. The international area is under rapid growth and worldwide consumer acceptance. Wal-Mart has over 2,660 stores in fourteen countries and the Low Price Promise is an advertising strategy that is known in any language. Sales have topped over $62.7 billion and continue to show a marked increase in profits every year. (International Overview 1-3) Because of this growth in the U.S. and internationally and the number of employees that make up Wal-Mart, it is critical that the company have a highly functional and well executed human resource management strategy. With the number of employees throughout the globe, Wal-Mart must remain competitive in employee benefits and deliver proper treatment of its workforce.

Wal-Mart's success in Human Resource Management, both in the US and abroad, is keeping their workforce of 1.3 million from unionizing, while adding to it and pursuing other Human Resource activities to further Wal-Mart's success. Wal-Mart would not have been able to expand and have the same level of success without hiring and taking care of quality employees. Some of Wal-Mart's human resource activities include employee advancement, employee recruitment on college universities, and employee training and development. Additionally, while most firms have slowed down their hiring of new employees, Wal-Mart has sought out new ways to attract employees to compensate for their further expansion over the next five years.

Looking at Wal-Mart's Human Resource Management, one of the most important aspects is Wal-Mart's employee advancement program. Currently, 65% of the company's managers began working hourly jobs, such as...