At its annual shareholder meeting, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott announced changes to their policies on pay, promotions, and diversity. Many believe the changes were made to counteract increased criticism of Wal-Mart's employment practices. In recent years, they have been charged with wage-and-hour violations, gender discrimination, unfair labor practices, and employment of illegal immigrants. Wal-Mart executives said the changes were intended to make the retailer more competitive in attracting and keeping workers and to alleviate what they called "the misrepresentation of Wal-Mart."
See "Wal-Mart overhauls pay, promotions", Parija Bhatnagar, CNN, June 6, 2004