Can we have separate checks?

Walmart’s policy of prohibiting employees from accepting the smallest of gratuities has been in place for a long time and for good reason. Veterans of the company will tell you that early on it was a key driver of success because there was a time when the retail industry was rife with merchants who tended to make buying decisions that were in their best interest as opposed to those of customers. Walmart founder Sam Walton removed this potential conflict from the buying process and decades after the policy was first implemented we get a reminder this week as to the wisdom of the decision courtesy of veteran Ad Age columnist Bob Garfield who commented on the unseemly behavior going on in the marketing world around the upcoming U.S. Open tennis tournament held in New York.