More than 31,000 Walmart Associates in Arizona to Receive Pay Raise

Walmart March 7, 2016

ArizonaAs part of the largest single-day, private-sector pay increase ever, more than 1.2 million Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in the U.S., including more than 17,700 in the Phoenix metro area and more than 31,000 across Arizona, will receive a pay raise in their March 10 paycheck. The increases are part of the company’s two-year, $2.7 billion investment in higher pay, better training, clearer career paths and additional educational opportunities for its workers.

Walmart associates are eligible for quarterly cash bonuses based on the performance of their store. For the full fiscal year, Walmart associates across the country earned more than $550 million in bonuses, including $16.4 million in Arizona. In addition to the higher wages, the March 10 paycheck for eligible Arizona associates will include a share of the nearly $6 million bonus earned in the fourth quarter of the year alone.

Walmart associate Allen de la Fuente, of Phoenix, is among Arizona associates benefitting from the March 10 pay increase.

“Walmart has consistently demonstrated it values my work. Just as important, this company has provided me the tools and opportunities to succeed,” said de la Fuente, who began working with Walmart six years ago as a part-time cashier, but now is a part of store management as a supervisor over the Entertainment section. “I’m proud to be a member of the Walmart team.”

Walmart’s associate investment is about more than wages and benefits. It is designed to provide associates the skills, knowledge and tools they need to grow with the company and provide great customer service. The company is also creating new training programs, which will create clear career paths from entry-level positions to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay.

Wages and Advancement

A job at Walmart means competitive pay for all associates. Last year, Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club promoted more than 200,000 associates, including more than 8,300 in Arizona, to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility. In addition, more than 150,000 associates, including more than 4,100 in Arizona, were converted from part-time to full-time. This month’s pay changes include:

  • All associates hired before Jan. 1, 2016 will earn at least $10/hour.
    • New entry-level associates hired after Jan. 1 will continue to start at $9/hour and will move to at least $10/hour after successfully completing the company’s new retail skills and training program known as Pathways.
  • Associates already earning more than $10/hour will see their annual pay increase starting in March rather than waiting until their anniversary date.
  • Walmart is raising the starting rate of its non-entry level hourly pay bands. Anyone earning below the new minimum will automatically move up to the new minimum.
  • Associates at or above their pay band maximum will receive a one-time lump sum payment equal to 2 percent of their annual pay.

Walmart in Arizona

Walmart’s local investment goes beyond the company’s recent pay raises. In Arizona, the company:

  • Operates 126 retail units.
  • Spent $772 million with local suppliers, supporting 1,948 supplier jobs in FYE 2015.
  • Paid more than $96 million in taxes and collected more than $386 million in sales taxes in FYE 2015.

This associate investment was taken into account in the financial outlook discussed last October at the company’s annual analyst meeting

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, nearly 260 million customers and members visit our 11,535 stores under 72 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2016 revenue of $482.1 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.

 

 

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