Undoubtedly you've heard about the myriad of lawsuits Wal-Mart is facing for systematically denying its workers breaks, forcing them to work off the clock, and falsifying time cards to squeeze just a little more profit from their beleaguered associates. You've probably also heard that recently a Minnesota judge ruled that Wal-Mart broke the law more than 2 million times in that state alone. Now, Arkansas Business tells us that Wal-Mart didn't just break the law, they knew they were breaking the law, were warned they were breaking the law, and still made a conscious decision to do so. Their decision was, no doubt, motivated by the greed and desire for profits that has poisoned their brand.

We were not shocked by the news that Wal-Mart was aware of its gross violations and kept on breaking the law, but we were appalled. Following is a statement from Wake Up Wal-Mart:

For Immediate Release July 29, 2008

WAL-MART KNEW IT WAS ABUSING WORKERS, BUT CHOSE TO BREAK THE LAW ANYWAY

A recent article from Arkansas Business reveals that not only did Wal-Mart deny its workers breaks at stores across the country, but also that Wal-Mart managers and executives received complaints and an audit revealing the widespread problem and chose to ignore it. A judge characterized Wal-Mart’s response to documentation of these problems, saying they “put their heads in the sand.”

“WakeUpWalMart.com has known all along that such a widespread problem was a matter of corporate culture and company-wide policy,” said Meghan Scott, spokesperson for WakeUpWalMart.com. “Wal-Mart knowingly denied its employees breaks so that it could make a greater profit. Its managers and executives ignored audits and reports showing abuse of federal law to protect their bottom line. It is one of the most flagrant examples in Wal-Mart’s long tradition of putting profit over people.”

Read the full article from Arkansas Business here.