Ever since the start of the 21st century, Wal-Mart has faced countless criticisms ranging from those challenging their wages to those challenging the working conditions that Wal-Mart employees are subject to, just to mention a few.

http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2003-10-05/is-wal-mart-too-powerful

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, in 2001, Wal-Mart sales clerks earned $8.23/hour or $13,861/year; at the time when the federal poverty line for a family of three was at an annual income of $14,630. All this time, Wal-Mart maintained that the salaries they offered were competitive in the industry while other critics also noted that the wage cap was mainly in place to force higher paid veterans out of the company. The ethical conflict was greatly publicized and Wal-Mart spokespeople had their hands full with the situation.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/inside.html

Whereas Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton is quoted saying “I pay low wages. I can take advantage of that. We’re going to be successful, but the basis is a very low-wage, low-benefit model of employment.”
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/inside.html)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2005-11-02-walmart-employees_x.htm

In lawsuits like the one above from Missouri, workers accused Wal-Mart of forcing employees to work off the clock who were not paid the correct overtime amount as required by law. The ethical issue of working conditions for employees versus profitability was clearly evident.