And while all of the above represent relatively recent dynamics that McMillon must deal with, at least one thing hasn’t changed for Wal-Mart: its high-profile role as a corporate and even social bellwether. Everyone from its massive customer base to its 1.3 million U.S. employees to its restive shareholders to activists of every size and description still closely scrutinize every move Wal-Mart makes, and many remain more than ready to call out McMillon if they don’t like what he does.
Now McMillon has launched a number of initiatives aimed at helping Wal-Mart improve the top line, the bottom line or both. Because with the crucial Christmas-holiday season nearing, the competition is still intensifying for the retailing dollar that American consumers remain reticent to use in an era of sluggish income growth even while the U.S. economy finally seems to be recovering.
McMillon’s newest gambits include just-announced plans to eliminate health-insurance coverage for some of its part-time U.S. employees because of rising costs and the particulars of Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act requires major employers to offer health-care insurance to all workers who toil at least 30 hours a week, which has prompted many of them —already including Target and Home Depot—to make a move similar to Wal-Mart’s.
Wal-Mart will discontinue existing coverage on January 1 for employees who work less than 30 hours a week, who comprise about 2 percent of the company’s American employees. In addition to the new burdens brought by Obamacare and how health insurers and other marketplace constituencies have reacted to it, Walmart has been facing generally rising health-care costs.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
