"Bare-Knuckle Enforcement for Wal-Mart's Rules" (3/29/07 p. A1)

Wal-Mart has gone over the top again. Wal-Mart store employees seem to find themselves in the spotlight rather often, and not for the good. It's no secret that the store is under a lawsuit for discriminating against women, but now, they're making the headlines for - what I consider to be - spying on employees.

According to this article, an investigator hired by employees flew to Guatemala in April of 2002. He flew across the country to prove that a Wal-Mart manager was sleeping with a lower-level employee. It is against company policy for two Wal-Mart employees to be involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with one another. The investigator heard moans and sighs coming from the hotel room, which he had his ear pressed against. The company later fired the manager.

I understand that fraternization between two company employees isn't tolerated within the company, however, hiring a professional to press his ear against a hotel in a foreign country is going a little too far. There are other ways the company can distinguish this problem without invading their private lives outside of work. It is highly unethical, in my opinion, for someone to press his ear against a hotel room and have an employee fired based on "moans and sighs."

The article went on to discuss that the investigators serve as rapid response team that aggressively polices the nation's largest private employer, enforcing Wal-Mart's rules to be strictly (above normally) enforced. Wal-Mart isn't even the only company that engages in such investigative practices. This tactic is commonly used throughout corporate America. This is something that I was unaware of, and just coming aware of it is something I cannot believe is going on.

There was one specific case discussed in the article about two Wal-Mart executives that were fired after they were thought to be romantically involved. The Wal-Mart investigation of the case subpoenaed the male executive's wife and compelled her to turn over dozens of embarrassing email messages that her husband sent to his female co-worker from a private account. This has gone too far. Wal-Mart has every reason to fire employees breaking company code, however, the extremes that they are going to are unethical and unreasonable.

I also believe that these investigators, who are top F.B.I agents with unbelievable experience behind them, could be putting their investigative skills to work other than following Wal-Mart employees around the country. These agents are booking hotel rooms right across the hall from rooms that are believed to be the scene of this over the wall fraternization. This is unbelievable! What employees do on their own time should be their business. As long as they aren't displaying any evidence of romantic relationships while on the clock within company walls, they should be left alone.

Article by: MICHAEL BARBARO