The perks program announced Wednesday comes as the nation’s largest private employer says it’s seeing a decline in worker turnover.
Walmart is offering new perks for its hourly U.S. workers, ranging from a new bonus plan to opportunities to move into skilled trade jobs within the company.
The perks program announced Wednesday comes as the nation’s largest private employer says it’s seeing a decline in worker turnover. But Walmart, like other employers, faces a still-competitive labor market and increasing demands from its employees.
Walmart’s new bonus plan for eligible part-time and full-time U.S. store workers — including those in its pharmacy and Vision Centers — is based on their store’s performance, with the maximum bonus potential also tied to years of experience.
For example, a full-time worker who’s been with Walmart between one year and almost five years can earn a maximum bonus of $350 per year, while a 20-year full-time worker can earn a maximum bonus of $1,000, Walmart said. The plan will be available to 700,000 U.S. workers, the company said.
In January, Walmart announced its U.S. store managers would receive up to $20,000 in Walmart stock grants every year.
The company, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, is also launching a training program for hourly workers in its U.S. stores and supply networks that will give them an opportunity to move into roles in facilities maintenance, refrigeration, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and automation. Walmart said it is looking to increase these skilled trades workers from 450 to roughly 2,000 in the next two years.
The jobs pay between $19 and $45 per hour, and workers will be paid during the training, the company said. Walmart’s average hourly wage is close to $18, an increase of 30% over the past five years. Walmart’s starting wages for U.S. workers range between $14 and $19 an hour.
The training program is expected to start with 100 workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It is part of the Walmart Academy, one of the largest skill-development programs in the country.