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Wal-Mart Adds 'Sexual Orientation' to Non-Discrimination Policy 7/2/2003 Retail giant Wal-Mart has announced that "sexual orientation" has been added to its non-discrimination policy. The move comes after the Seattle-based homosexual pressure group Pride Foundation became investors in the company in August 2001 and joined with other liberal investment groups in pushing for the change.
This move leaves ExxonMobil as the only remaining company of the 10 largest members of the Fortune 500 without such a policy. Of all the Fortune 500 companies, 197 provide medical coverage for domestic partners and 318 have extended non-discrimination policies to homosexuals.
Wal-Mart’s new policy was released in a letter today to its 3,500 stores. It states, “We affirm our commitment and pledge our support to equal opportunity employment for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability or status as a veteran or sexual orientation.”
The policy also calls for managers to “recruit, train and promote all job positions” based on those principles. Personnel actions must also comply with the policy, and the company has revised its harassment and inappropriate conduct policies in light of the new policy.
When first contacted by the liberal pressure groups, Wal-Mart agreed to conduct management training without changing its policy on homosexuals.
While Wal-Mart has changed its non-discrimination policy in response to continued pressure, a spokesman has told The New York Times that it has no plans to offer domestic partner health benefits.
The activists behind this effort say they will continue to pressure the retailer until they do.
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