Walmart said Wednesday it plans to convert most of its U.S. hourly jobs to 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 Walmart’s U.S. People Operations, outlined the plans in a blog post, writing that two-thirds of Walmart’s current hours will end up being “full-time with constant week-to-week schedules.”
“We are in a unique position to offer a combination of stability and growth margin that few others can match,” Holler wrote. “We are prioritizing constant schedules, skills training and new growth pathways, so all Walmart jobs can lead to careers.”
He went on to say that Walmart knows that “offering more full-time opportunities along with skills, training and equipping partners with tools to make the job easier will help us stay attracted and retain the best talent.”
Walmart, yes 1.6 million employees in the US, had about 53 percent of its workforce holding full-time positions in 2016, Holler said.
The chief executive added that the new target announced on Wednesday follows the line of Walmart’s distribution and compliance centers, which have more than 80 per cent of their full-time workers.
“Reaching two-thirds by the end of the year means we will have approximately 100,000 more full-time positions than five years ago, which represents significant investments in the salary, hours and stability of our associates,” Holler said. .
Walmart, one of the few retailers to experience business growth amid the coronavirus pandemic with rising online sales, has over the past year continued to implement operational changes in hopes of maintaining a stable workforce to stay afloat. up to date with consumer demand.
In February, the retail giant he announced that he would increase his hourly wages per 425,000 employees nationwide for between $ 13 and $ 19 an hour, depending on location.
Walmart president and chairman John Furner said the company in the last year also introduced COVID-19 special bonds, increased pay for 165,000 leadership roles and restructured a “team-based work model in the our stores “.
“Whatever your role, you know we will continue to support and invest in you,” Furner said in a statement to employees in February.