As experienced professionals in fields including manufacturing and transportation retire, many occupations will become increasingly difficult to recruit for, worsening the existing skills shortage.

Walmart, the world’s largest company by revenue, is turning to its 2.1 million global employees to fill the gaps.

When the company realized it would need to fill 100,000 “higher-paying and in-demand” roles within the next three years, it decided to focus on developing its existing employees. Lo Stomski, Walmart’s chief talent officer, is leading the team focused on making this talent strategy possible at Walmart.

In recent years, Walmart has expanded and rolled out initiatives intended to help its workers identify and pursue opportunities within the company. Stomski recently sat down with HR Brew to discuss some of these initiatives.

Keep reading here.—PM

The Supreme Court could shift the necessary standards for consideration of workplace discrimination lawsuits in the upcoming term, which could impact future discrimination cases.

On Oct 4., the Supreme Court announced that it would review a workplace discrimination case in Ohio. Marlean Ames, a straight woman, sued the Ohio Department of Youth Services, her employer of 20 years, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, claiming she was denied promotions and demoted because of her sexual orientation, NBC News reported.

Lower courts previously ruled against Ames, saying she hadn’t proved the discrimination required to move forward with the case. But Ames’ lawyers argue that standing precedent is unfair. Several courts rule that plaintiffs from a “majority group” must meet a higher standard when making discrimination claims in order for a case to proceed.

There are several workplace DE&I lawsuits currently moving through the courts; an Ames victory could give validation to those filed by white and straight workers, and could impact other DE&I initiatives, Reuters reported.

Keep reading here.—KP

We chat 1:1 with HR pros about their career journeys. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to share your story with us.

Ashley Larochelle’s first job was at an exotic pet store, Zoo Creatures, in New Hampshire. While working as an associate, 16-year-old Larochelle was tasked with hand-feeding parrots, cleaning up after alligators, and tending to several other extraordinary animals on a daily basis.

She said her hard work at Zoo Creatures led to multiple promotions over her four-year tenure. But, more importantly, it taught her valuable HR lessons that she still uses today. Now the VP of people and culture at insect repellent company Thermacell, Larochelle shared with HR Brew the people lessons she learned from her first job.

Keep reading here.—MC

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