The Human Rights Campaign has downgraded Wal-Mart just before the holiday shopping season in its new consumer guide, USA Today reports:
“Citing Wal-Mart's refusal to offer domestic partner benefits to its gay and lesbian workers, the HRC said Tuesday that the USA's biggest private employer has ‘more work to do in furthering equality.' It advised gays and their supporters to shop elsewhere. Wal-Mart rated a red 40 on a scale of 100, down from a yellow 65 in 2006. It was among 54 companies that scored 45 or lower in HRC's 2008 Corporate Equality index, which assigns ratings to 519 large companies. Also in the red: Toys R Us, RadioShack (RSH) and AutoZone (AZO). Wal-Mart rival Target rated a ‘green' 80, meaning that ‘consumers should make every effort to support these businesses.' Wal-Mart has bucked a corporate trend of expanding benefits for gay employees, says Daryl Herrschaft, director of HRC's workplace project.”
Gay rights group raises red flag on Wal-Mart policies [usa today]
