Walmart continues investing in its hourly workers and announced an enhanced bonus and support plan to boost employee prospects.
In a blog post, John Furner, president and CEO Walmart US, and Lo Stomski, senior vice president, chief talent officer, pointed out the company during the past five years increased hourly wages by approximately 30%, bringing its average hourly wage in the United States to almost $18. However, the executives noted wages haven’t been the only investments by Walmart to provide better conditions and career paths for employees.
Walmart also has boosted centers of excellence for health care, family building and adoption benefits, along with other resources for mind and body. Plus, the company expanded its global academies to provide more opportunities for more people. Walmart continues to invest in associate long-term financial health through the company’s 401(k) and associate stock purchase programs, the Walmart executives wrote.
Walmart is making four new investments:
New Bonus for Hourly Store Associates. During Associates Week in Northwest Arkansas, Walmart announced a new bonus for eligible full- and part-time hourly store associates, one that rewards great work and customer service, the company reported. It celebrates long-term associates who build a career at Walmart. The longer an hourly store associate stays with the company, the higher their bonus potential up to $1,000 a year.
Associate to Technician Pipeline Program. With the country facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, Walmart is piloting a new initiative with 100 associates in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that will help hourly store and supply chain associates move into facilities maintenance, refrigeration and HVAC, reliability and automation technician roles. The technician jobs make between $19 and $45 an hour and provide opportunities to build a meaningful career while meeting a business need for the company.
Doubling Certificates in Live Better U. Associates have asked for Walmart-paid education options that take less time to complete, and the company now offers more than 50 skills certificates, which associates can finish in four months, on average, compared to years for a college degree. The goal is to fast-track front-line associates into approximately 100,000 jobs that are higher-paying and in-demand within Walmart’s business. Certificates cover positions, including salaried and hourly leadership roles in Walmart stores, clubs and supply chain facilities, as well as roles such as pharmacy technician, optician and software engineer in growing parts of the business.
Total Pay and Benefits in Me@Walmart. A consumer-grade app, Me@Walmart, centralizes the functionality an associate needs for a better day at work. The addition of the new Total Pay and Benefits feature in the app gives associates at-a-glance visibility to their pay, discounts, learning opportunities and benefits with the goal of friction-free access to tools and resources for a better life.
