BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Recently, Walmart announced plans to expand maternity and parental leave benefits and provide a one-time cash bonus for eligible associates of up to $1,000. The company is also creating a new benefit to assist associates with adoption expenses. The combined bonus and benefit changes will benefit the company's more than one million U.S. hourly associates, including more than 87,100 Walmart associates in California.
"We are building on investments we've been making in associates, in their wages and skills development," said Doug McMillon, Walmart president and CEO. "It's our people who make the difference and we appreciate how they work hard to make every day easier for busy families."
Associates will continue to hear more from their managers in the coming days about details.
But, broadly, associates in California will benefit through:
- A one-time bonus benefiting all eligible full and part-time hourly associates. The amount of the bonus will be based on length of service, with associates with at least 20 years qualifying for $1,000. In California, the wage increases and one-time cash bonus is estimated to total $27,590,000 for eligible associates.
- An expanded parental and maternity leave policy, providing full-time hourly associates in the U.S. with 10 weeks of paid maternity leave and six weeks of paid parental leave. Salaried associates will also receive six weeks of paid parental leave.
- Walmart will provide financial assistance to associates adopting a child. The adoption benefit, available to both full-time hourly and salaried associates, will total $5,000 per child and may be used for expenses such as adoption agency fees, translation fees and legal or court costs.
"Walmart's continued investment in people will keep their workforce strong but will also strengthen hundreds of California communities," said Bill Dombrowski, President and CEO of the California Retailers Association. "Walmart's initiative will directly impact the daily lives of tens of thousands of Californians."
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. The company's legal name will become Walmart Inc., effective on Feb. 1, 2018, to reflect its growing status as an omni-channel retailer. Each week, over 260 million customers and members visit our more than 11,600 stores under nearly 60 banners in 28 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2017 revenue of $485.9 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 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.