Corporate Responsibility

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores spent $1.49 million on lobbying in the third quarter on a wide range of issues including food safety, nutritional labeling and corporate tax reform, according to a recent disclosure report.

The total is the same as the $1.49 million the discounter spent in second quarter 2011.
 

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot announced that it has rewarded 25 organizations for their leadership in greener purchasing. The awards were presented during Office Depot’s greener purchasing summit and awards ceremony on Nov. 15 in Oakland, Calif. 

West Chester, Pa. -- QVC announced Monday that Beth Rubino has been promoted to executive VP human resources and workplace services, reporting to QVC president and CEO Mike George.

Rubino was previously senior VP human resources and workplace services.

In addition to her global human resources role, Rubino will continue to oversee QVC's corporate communications, as well as its community affairs programs and corporate social responsibility efforts.
 

New York City -- Lowe's Home Improvement is facing a backlash in the wake of its decision to stop advertising on a reality show about American Muslims. About 40 local and national Muslim and Arab-American leaders from around the nation are expected to participate Monday evening in a conference call to discuss the decision by the home improvement chain to pull its ads from the cable show "All-American Muslim,” The Detroit News reported.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart announced that it has kicked off its "12 Days of Giving" campaign, awarding more than $1.5 million to nonprofits that were nominated by Facebook users. By the end of the campaign, 145 grant recipients in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico will be honored.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday that it has kicked off its "12 Days of Giving" campaign, awarding over $1.5 million to nonprofits that were nominated by Facebook users. By the end of the campaign, 145 grant recipients in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, will be honored. Twenty-five nonprofits that have stepped up to fight hunger are receiving a total of $130,000 on the first day of giving.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. revealed Thursday it has launched an internal investigation into whether its overseas operations complied with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in matters including permitting, licensing and inspections. 

Few details about the internal probe have been released, but the retailer revealed the investigation in a quarterly report filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The law in question deals with bribery and accounting rules when companies are doing business overseas. 

New York City -- Barnes & Noble said Thursday it has earned the top rating of 100% for the fourth year in a row in the 2012 Corporate Equality Index, an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Barnes & Noble joins the ranks of 190 other major U.S. businesses, which received top marks for their treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees and consumers.