Walmart said Wednesday it plans to turn most of its hourly jobs in the U.S. into full-time jobs by the end of fiscal year 2021 as part of its efforts to promote job stability and retain workers.
Drew Holler, senior vice president of US People’s Operations at Walmart, outlined the plans in a blog post, writing that two-thirds of the Walmart roles that are currently on schedule will eventually be “full-time, with consistent week-to-week programs.”
“We are uniquely positioned to provide a combination of stability and room for growth that few others can match,” Holler wrote. “We prioritize consistent programs, skills training and new ways to grow, so that all Walmart jobs can lead to careers.”
He went on to say that Walmart knows that “providing more full-time opportunities, along with skills, training and equipping partners with tools to make work easier will help us continue to attract and retain top talent.”
Walmart, which has 1.6 million employees in the US, had about 53 percent of the hourly workforce holding full-time positions in 2016, Holler said.
The top executive added that the new target announced on Wednesday follows the line of Walmart’s distribution and fulfillment centers, which have more than 80% of their employees employed full time.
“Reaching two-thirds by the end of the year means we will have about 100,000 full-time positions more than five years ago – representing significant investments in the salaries, hours and stability of our associates,” Holler said.
Walmart, one of the few retailers to see business growth amid the growing coronavirus pandemic online sales, has continued to implement operational changes over the past year in hopes of maintaining a stable workforce to keep up with demand. consumers.
In February, the retail giant announced that it will increase its hourly wages for 425,000 employees nationwide, between $ 13 and $ 19 per hour, depending on location.
Walmart CEO and President John Furner said that in the past year, the company has introduced special COVID-19 bonuses, increased the salary for 165,000 management roles and restructured a “teamwork model in our stores.” .
“Regardless of your role, you know that we will continue to support and invest in you,” Furner said in a statement to employees in February.