On April 30, 2024, Cynthia Murray, a Walmart associate of 23 years, addressed fellow shareholders in a letter urging them to vote for Proposal No. 9, which calls for an independent review of Walmart's workplace safety and violence policies. The proposal comes in the wake of several incidents involving Walmart employees, including the deaths of WesLee Loclair and Elena Rios in workplace accidents in February and March 2024, respectively, and a fatal stabbing and shooting of Walmart associates in separate incidents. Murray's proposal, although not mandatory for the company, aims to engage stakeholders and provide recommendations for improving employee safety. The letter cites nearly 5,000 entries for Walmart in OSHA's 2022 data, including 8 workplace deaths and numerous injuries and illnesses. The National Employment Law...Show More

On April 30, 2024, Cynthia Murray, a Walmart associate of 23 years, addressed fellow shareholders in a letter urging them to vote for Proposal No. 9, which calls for an independent review of Walmart's workplace safety and violence policies. The proposal comes in the wake of several incidents involving Walmart employees, including the deaths of WesLee Loclair and Elena Rios in workplace accidents in February and March 2024, respectively, and a fatal stabbing and shooting of Walmart associates in separate incidents. Murray's proposal, although not mandatory for the company, aims to engage stakeholders and provide recommendations for improving employee safety. The letter cites nearly 5,000 entries for Walmart in OSHA's 2022 data, including 8 workplace deaths and numerous injuries and illnesses. The National Employment Law Project found Walmart associates at supercenters had a 75% higher chance of work-related injuries than the retail industry average. Walmart has faced criticism for its safety record, including being listed as one of the nation's 'Dirty Dozen' employers by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health in 2019 and 2024. The letter also highlights the increasing incidents of workplace violence in retail settings, with Walmart experiencing at least 473 gun-related incidents and 104 deaths between 2020 and 2024. Murray concludes by emphasizing the importance of the audit for the safety of Walmart's workforce and the reduction of workplace violence.