Most of Wal-Mart’s U.S. employees will get raises as part of the world’s largest retailer’s previously announced commitment to invest in its workforce.
Wal-Mart, which announced in October that it would invest $2.7 billion in its workforce over two years, said more than 1.2 million U.S. hourly workers will receive pay increases. The company, which has 1.4 million U.S. workers, also will provide basic short-term disability at no cost to full-time hourly workers and allow workers to accrue paid time off as they earn it.
Previously, Wal-Mart raised its base employee wages for 500,000 workers to $9 per hour last April, and is increasing hourly pay to at least $10 an hour, starting next month.
The moves come as the nation’s private employer has been under pressure from labor-backed groups.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
A private business should be able to pay what they want to. If you don’t like the compensation, leave and find another job. Increasing minimum wages will only hurt businesses. Businesses are going to do what is right for them so they can compete in the free market. Walmart is closing store around the world so that they can compete. Unions (socialism) are bad for the economy and have drive jobs and businesses to other countries. Anytime the government gets involved, we the people lose.
That sounds wonderful on the surface, but Walmart is ALSO going to close a lot of stores throughout the nation. I think these closures are because they can’t do both: give higher wages to their employees and maintain as many stores and employees. Something has to give. So, some employees get paid more; others lose their entire jobs.
Wal-Mart is also closing 269 stores, and some are being converted into secret FEMA concentration camps.