Lockdown

Is there anyone who believes Wal-Mart when it claims that it locks workers in stores at night only to protect them from crime? No? Then how many people believe that Wal-Mart locks those workers in to prevent them from taking smoke breaks or walking out with a couple of DVDs? Thought so.

Now, I guess it's not really news that Wal-Mart, like a lot of employers, doesn't trust the people it hires to do the more menial jobs. The pay is low, the work is hard, and the hours suck — not exactly a recipe for winning the hearts and minds of your cleaning staff. But instead of putting a manager on the graveyard shift to keep an eye on things, Wal-Mart just locks the workers in and then threatens to fire anyone who uses the emergency exits. Which is why Michael Rodriguez waited an hour with a crushed ankle for someone to come and unlock the doors. But paying a night manager would cost Wal-Mart money, so it's just easier for the company to abuse its "associates". Nice.