Corporate Responsibility

A week after announcing that it would boost wages for its employees, Walmart is stepping up again in a big way with a commitment to close the skills gap of entry level workers.

The Walmart Foundation is making an initial investment of $16 million to seven national nonprofits as part of the Opportunity initiative, a $100 million commitment to help increase the economic mobility of entry level workers in retail and adjacent sectors.

Washington, D.C. -- Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announce an initial investment of $16 million to seven national nonprofit organizations, as part of a new Opportunity initiative, a $100 million commitment to help increase the economic mobility of entry level workers in retail and adjacent sectors. The $100 million commitment was first announced last week by Walmart president and CEO Doug McMillon, in conjunction with the roll out of new opportunities and enhanced benefits for Walmart associates.

Walmart is all about leveraging its scale to drive performance, but the application of that mindset can play out in many different ways, as Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation, will explain on March 3.

Despite weak sales and possible criminal charges from the Department of Justice, Lumber Liquidators Inc. plans to keep its aggressive expansion plans in 2015

New York -- Brixmor Property Group announced that in 2014, it completed lighting upgrade projects at 39 shopping centers, for an estimated combined energy reduction of 68%, or 6,100,000 kilowatt hours annually. That is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from electricity used in 585 homes or the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 10 million passenger vehicle miles.

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.

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

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.