Walmart has emerged as one of the biggest retail players in the coronavirus prep arena, and they're spreading the wealth to their team.
Almost $550,000,000 has been earmarked for staff bonuses, according to a recent Walmart press release. It will be paid out to hourly associates in stores, clubs, supply chain, and offices in their U.S. locations as a one-time bonus.
On April 2, full-time hourly associates will get $300, and part-time hourly associates will get $150. All hourly Walmart employees hired since March 1, 2020, are eligible for the bonuses.
The news was released in a tweet on the official Walmart Twitter account:
Our associates are our heroes. To say thank you, we're providing nearly $550M through special bonuses and advanced quarterly bonus payouts to hourly store, club and supply chain associates. We're also hiring! We plan to add 150,000 jobs. Read more here: https://t.co/Xdw0F8TkwR pic.twitter.com/TCYyibpDDU
— Walmart Inc. (@WalmartInc) March 20, 2020
As Americans work to procure supplies to stay at home, they have turned to their big discount stores like Walmart, Costco, Sam's, and BJs to get the biggest bang for their buck. Store employees have had to face incredible waves of shoppers, long lines, and constant restocking every day.
Over the past weeks, Walmart has even had to change their store hours in order to try and keep up with the overwhelming demand.
To better serve our customers and support our associates, Walmart U.S. stores are making the following changes: https://t.co/SFfKBdos5z pic.twitter.com/StIx9p2adE
— Walmart (@Walmart) March 19, 2020
In addition to the upcoming bonuses, Walmart is actively recruiting new employees to help take the pressure off of the current workforce. Anyone interested in applying for a job with the company can apply online here. Approximately 150,000 additional store associates will be needed to work in stores, clubs, and distribution centers all over the country.
What do you think of Walmart's bonus plan? Sound off in the comments!