Something to Gain (EDITORS NOTE)

It was the opinion heard across America.

On Feb. 23, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. took an overt position when a spokesman said the company did not support the polarizing Arkansas law that will ban city and county governments from expanding anti-discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

That was the last day Gov. Asa Hutchinson was able to either veto Senate Bill 202 or sign it into law. He did neither, balancing his respect for the legislative process with a concern over the loss of local control.

Legislation on the governor’s desk for five days can become a law without the governor’s signature. That means the legislation — passed overwhelmingly by both the Arkansas House and Senate earlier in February — will take effect 90 days after the 90th General Assembly concludes.

It made me curious about Walmart’s motives. Opponents of the bill for days had been urging companies to publicly speak out against the measure. Didn’t mean they had to. A Washington Post reporter said that a Tyson Foods spokesman, in an email sent to the paper, said the company did not comment publicly on pending legislation.

Fair enough. So what made the world’s largest and most successful company seize the moment once the ship had, seemingly, already sailed?

Perhaps company representatives who generally avoid the risk of getting involved in political and social issues felt so strongly about this one they wanted their opinion in the mix, simply to get it on the record.

And even if Walmart thought for a minute it might lose customers by putting its name on the line, the company may have offered its two cents anyway. Like most large companies, its own non-discrimination policy already includes protections based on sexual orientation.

Undoubtedly, Doug McMillon’s rationale was that there was an opportunity to gain something, either morally, financially or otherwise. The amount of time spent considering the business implications before issuing a public decree was, no doubt, exhaustive.

But more frequently, customers who align themselves with Company X want to know what Company X stands for and supports. In an environment that is simultaneously growing more diverse and more divisive, consider it the cost of doing business.