The New York Times recently published an article that has sparked controversy for its favorable portrayal of Walmart’s management practices. The piece has been criticized for seemingly echoing the company’s own public relations efforts.

The article, which examines whether Walmart’s management can be deemed ‘compassionate,’ has drawn scrutiny for its failure to address recent examples that call the company’s practices into question. For instance, the company recently agreed to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for $70,000. The lawsuit centered on the case of Luis Quiñones, an employee in South Carolina with a prosthetic leg, whose rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) were allegedly violated by Walmart.

Furthermore, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has been involved in numerous cases alleging labor violations by Walmart. In one instance, a complaint was issued against a Walmart in Central, South Carolina, accusing the company of violating the National Labor Relations Act. The complaint detailed various alleged infractions, including restricting workers from recording or photographing within the workplace, discouraging the expression of safety concerns related to the COVID mask policy, and penalizing workers for engaging in protected concerted activities.

With 4,700 stores across the United States and a workforce of 1.6 million, Walmart has faced legal challenges and allegations of anti-worker practices. Region 20 of the NLRB has also filed a complaint against the company for alleged union busting at a store in Eureka, California.