Walmart to Reward Hourly Store Workers with Up to $1,000 Bonuses as Tight Labor Market Pressures Employers to Offer Competitive Pay

Walmart announced it will pay bonuses of up to $1,000 per year to around 700,000 hourly store workers in the US, including those at its pharmacy and vision centers. Both part-time and full-time employees will be eligible for the bonus, which is calculated based on stores achieving certain performance targets. The bonuses are meant to boost wages for frontline staff and make Walmart more competitive, as some rivals pay a higher starting wage. Walmart also launched training programs to help store workers transition to higher-paying technician roles. The tight labor market has kept pressure on retailers to boost pay and benefits for workers.