Walmart is dropping 3,000 Sam’s Club managers. according to an article in the WSJ. The managers, who used to be in charge of specific sections of the store (i.e. bakery, meat, photo). can now choose a severance package, quit, or remain on as hourly workers.

Why is Walmart doing this? To improve customer service, of course! From the WSJ:

“This is not about cost reduction; it’s about providing better service to our members,” [A Walmart Spokesperson] said.

Anyway, a copy of the severance package offered to the 3,000 managers flew in over the transom and it contains lots of severance-tastic clauses like “Cooperation”:

Hey, at least when you testify in one of their 67 lawsuits alleging wage violations in 36 states, they’ll negotiate your expenses. And then there’s the “Releases” section which releases Walmart from Age Discrimination Claims as well as

“any claim for damages, costs, attorney fees, expenses, and compensation, whether known or unknown arising out of or related to the Associate’s employment with Wal-Mart or the separation thereof. The Associate also releases any and all claims rhe Associate may have have that arose prior to the date of this Agreement, and specifically waives and releases all claims under Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and any and all state or local statutes, ordinances, or regulations. The Associate also waives all claims arising under federal, state, or local law involving wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional stress, the tort of outrage, or any other contract or tort claims. “

Now, this might be the most standard severance package in the history of the universe, but it does occur to us that Walmart certainly had to waive a lot of laws in order to provide “better service to our members.” The Wall Street Journal points out that the largest of Walmart’s 67 lawsuits is “a sex-discrimination suit that involves 1.5 million past and present female workers.” —MEGHANN MARCO

Wal-Mart Moves to Trim Manager Jobs at Sam’s Club [WSJ]

Sam’s Club Severance Package (PDF)

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