I throughly enjoyed reading Jocelyn’s blog about how Google and Walmart’s profit maximizing strategies were really one and the same. My perspective on these two companies shifted as a result. I am skeptical on whether Walmart would benefit from treating its employees better in the long run.

I believe that the way employees are treated in the workplace should reflect the company’s corporate culture. The most illustrious example would be Google, with its resort-like office space, complete with color, style, and comfort. This makes sense in that context because Google favors creativity and innovation. The success of its business model depends on its people. On the other hand, Walmart is all about having the lowest prices; it does not need such an emphasis on artistic creations. Unfortunately, this also leads to poor treatment of its employees. I would argue that Walmart’s lack of benefits for employees can be attributed to, at least in part, to the nature of its business model. There simply does not exist the need for excellent employee treatment. This does not mean that I agree with its business practices, just that it has fallen prey to a web of its own creation. 

https://blogs.ubc.ca/jocelynkwong/response-to-google-adds-benefits-walmart-cuts-them-oddly-the-logic-is-the-same/