Consumer Affairs & Relations

Bentonville, Ark. – In a reversal of corporate policy that did not offer workers paid sick leave until their second day of absence, Wal-Mart Store Inc. is reportedly now allowing employees to collect sick pay on their first day of not reporting to work due to illness. According to the Wall Street Journal, the change in policy is part of a larger effort to improve employee morale.

Deerfield, Ill. – Walgreens customers have a new resource for getting information on medication. Non-profit PatientsLikeMe is working with Walgreens to help make it easier for people to understand how the medications they take may affect them.

Now, consumers researching a medication or filling a prescription on Walgreens.com can access a snapshot that shows how their prescribed medication has impacted other patients on the therapy, including medication side effects, as reported by PatientsLikeMe members.
 

The Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, has warned shoppers at shopping centers to be vigilant after a terror group called for attacks at shopping venues in Canada, the U.K. and the United States, mentioning by name the Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minn.

The White House recently hosted a daylong Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection at Stanford University. Speakers ranged from President Barack Obama to Apple CEO Tim Cook to Walgreens president Alex Gourlay). Here are a few takeaways.

Retailers Recognize Chip and PIN

Denver - The Finish Line’s Running Specialty Group (RSG) division, which operates 70 stores, is adding the two-store, Utah-based Striders running company to its national network.

RSG operates in 16 states and the District of Columbia under a variety of banners.

Striders was founded in 2004 by John and Kristin Wojciechowski, who will now join RSG in senior advisory roles and will focus on developing community initiatives to enhance the customer experience.

New York -- On Thursday, in a move that could shape the minimum wage debate, Walmart announced it was raising the minimum wage of its employees to $10 per house, which is significantly higher than the Federal minimum wage. The news has met with a mixed reaction.  

Here's a sampling:
 
CNBC reports that Wall Street gives Walmart a big thumbs down for the news.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation called for President Obama to become involved in the ongoing contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) if a deal is not reached.

“It has been nearly a week since President Obama dispatched Labor Secretary Perez to the West Coast to help settle the protracted contract dispute between the ILWU and PMA,” Jonathan Gold, VP for supply chain and customs policy, NRF, wrote in a statement issued Friday.

New York – Ann Inc., parent of Ann Taylor and Loft. is reportedly working with financial firm JPMorgan Chase & Co. on a potential sale. According to Bloomberg, the $1.6 billion Ann Inc. has spoken with other retail chains and at least two buyout firms and a private equity firm.

Montreal - Dollarama Inc. has named Elisa D. Garcia, executive VP and chief legal officer of Office Depot Inc., as an independent director and member of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Garcia’s appointment expands the corporation’s board of directors to 10 directors, seven of whom are independent.

The National Retail Federation has called for President Obama to become involved in the ongoing contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) if a deal is not reached.

“It has been nearly a week since President Obama dispatched Labor Secretary Perez to the West Coast to help settle the protracted contract dispute between the ILWU and PMA,” Jonathan Gold, VP for supply chain and customs policy, NRF, said in a statement.