More than 50,000 Walmart Associates in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia To Receive Pay Raise

As 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 50,000 in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia 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 more than $30 million in the DC/MD/VA areas. In addition to the higher wages, the March 10 paycheck for eligible DC/MD/VA associates will include a share of the more than $11 million bonus earned in the fourth quarter of the year alone.

“I think Walmart is showing that they are truly trying to invest in their employees,” said Pamela Encinas, Department Manager of Cosmetics at the Tysons Corner Walmart in Virginia. “It makes me happy that the company took associate feedback to heart and is creating more opportunities for us. As a mother of two, I am really happy with the changes in PTO policies. I think the new program will allow me to spend more time with my kids when needed and help me create a better work/life balance.”

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 10,627 in DC/MD/VA, to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility. In addition, more than 150,000 associates, including 6,825 in the tri-state area 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 Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia:

Walmart’s local investment goes beyond the company’s recent pay raises. In DC/MD/VA, the company:
--Operates 209 retail units.
--Spent $3.68 billion with local suppliers, supporting 54,017 supplier jobs in fiscal year 2015.
--Paid more than $171.7 million in taxes and collected more than $475 million in sales taxes in fiscal year 2015.