I know about Wal-Mart almost first hand...let me tell you - they are very competitive, their benefits are pretty good - stock options/bonuses...their health insurance is, I'd say, one of the best and very affordable and unique - listen to this - you are able to pick youself so-called health credits (amount covered before deductive) from 100 to 1000, then you pick a deductible, and it's 80/20after that, of course...the plan that I know about is a family plan, first 500 bucks before deductible covered for each family memeber, 2000 deduc. and it costs only 70 dol bi-weekly...in other words you don't have to meet your deductible in order to start receving benefits. it works like a donut hole, but for a lot of people it makes sense - makes the premiums more affordable...also they offer health saving accounts and match your contributions...
the reason they get so much negative press is because they refuse to unionize...so they are being vilified by the politicians and liberal activists...