Labor & Employment

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 — NYSW Beverage Brands has named Amir J. Daibes, P.E., the new president and part owner of the company. Daibes joined the New York-based bottled water company after more than 30 years in the engineering, manufacturing and construction industry.

“This is an exciting, young company positioned for growth with great products and tremendous potential in the marketplace,” Daibes said.  “I am honored to be part of the team, and look forward to building its brands and footprint.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Thursday said that consumer confidence in the U.S. was little changed for a second week, holding at a level typically reached during past recessions.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index was at minus 50.3 in the period ended Dec. 4, after a reading of minus 50.2 the prior week. The gauge has been at minus 50 or worse for 11 of the past 12 weeks.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group said Thursday it has appointed Jeff Gerstel as president of Dressbarn, and named George Goldfarb as president of its Maurices brand, both effective immediately.

The new executives will report to David Jaffe, president and CEO of Ascena Retail Group.

Gerstel joined Dressbarn in 2006 as senior VP operations and most recently served as executive VP and COO.

Goldfarb joined Maurices in 1985, was named CFO in 2003, and most recently was its executive VP and COO.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s announced that it plans to open a new customer support center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The center is expected to be operational during the first quarter of 2012 and is estimated to create 250 jobs by March and a total of 600 jobs by the end of 2013.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s said Thursday it will open a new Customer Support Center in Albuquerque, N.M., in first quarter 2012.

The center is estimated to create 250 jobs by March and a total of 600 jobs by the end of 2013.

Beaumont, Texas -- Conn’s Inc. reported Thursday that losses in the third quarter widened to $12.7 million from $4.8 million a year ago.

Sales rose 5% to $179.5 million.

The electronics retailer also announced that it made Theodore M. Wright its permanent president and CEO. He had been the company’s interim president and CEO since February 2011.

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.