# Still Broke: How America’s Biggest Company Began Taking Better Care of Its Workers--and Why Such Efforts Will Never Be Enough
## Introduction
- Overview of Walmart's controversial history as America's largest employer.
- The ethical concerns surrounding its business practices and treatment of workers.
- Setting the stage for Walmart's transformation and the book's central question: Is it enough?
## Part I: Walmart's Rise and Controversial Legacy
- **The Dominance of Walmart**
- How Walmart revolutionized retail with low prices.
- The impact on small businesses and local economies.
- Criticism of supply chain practices, including outsourcing production overseas.
- **The Human Cost of Low Prices**
- Poor wages and working conditions for employees.
- Reliance on public assistance programs by Walmart workers.
- Public backlash and labor movements demanding change.
- **A Turning Point in 2005**
- Internal and external pressures leading to initial reforms.
- Early efforts toward sustainability and corporate responsibility.
## Part II: Walmart's Transformation Under Doug McMillon
- **The Arrival of CEO Doug McMillon (2014)**
- Leadership style and vision for a socially conscious Walmart.
- Acceleration of changes aimed at improving employee welfare and environmental impact.
- **Key Reforms Implemented**
- Raising the starting wage from $7.25 to $12 per hour.
- Expanding employee benefits and career development opportunities.
- Environmental initiatives positioning Walmart as a sustainability leader.
- **Corporate Social Responsibility**
- Walmart's role in promoting "new capitalism."
- Collaboration with stakeholders to drive positive social impact.
## Part III: Challenges and Critiques of Walmart's Progress
- **Is It Enough?**
- Analysis of the limitations of Walmart's wage increases.
- The reality of living on $12, $15, or even $17 per hour in today's economy.
- Persistent struggles faced by full-time workers earning less than $32,000 annually.
- **Broader Economic Implications**
- The debate over minimum wage laws and worker advocacy movements.
- Reflections on how America came to rely on an underpaid workforce.
- The societal consequences of failing to meet basic needs for low-wage workers.
- **Critique of Corporate-Led Change**
- Can voluntary reforms by corporations address systemic issues?
- The gap between Walmart's progress and the ideal of a healthy society.
- Questions about who bears responsibility for economic equity.
## Part IV: Lessons from Walmart's Story
- **The Role of Business in Society**
- Examining whether businesses should prioritize profit or people.
- The tension between capitalism and social justice.
- **Future Directions for the Economy**
- Proposals for policy changes to support fair wages and worker rights.
- The potential for collaboration between government, corporations, and communities.
- **Building a Healthier Society**
- What would it take to create an economy that values all workers?
- A call to action for redefining success beyond financial metrics.
## Conclusion
- Recap of Walmart's journey from controversy to reform.
- Final reflections on the adequacy of corporate-led solutions.
- An urgent appeal for systemic change to ensure dignity and security for all workers.