Wal-Mart sheds zone managers

WAL-MART is eliminating a layer of in-store management, part of efforts to simplify operations at the world’s largest retailer. The company would cut the role of zone manager and transfer the duties to other managers, Wal-Mart spokesman Kory Lundberg said. The change, affecting about 14 000 employees, is meant to reduce bureaucracy and put more power in the hands of people running Wal-Mart’s 4 500 US stores. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company began notifying employees of the decision this month, Lundberg said. – Bloomberg