More than 890,000 Walmart associates in the United States are receiving a share of $560 million in total cash bonuses, including:
• More than $160 million in cash bonuses based on their stores’ Q4 performance, and
• More than $400 million in one-time cash bonuses tied to recent changes in tax law.
• In Kentucky, Walmart associates are receiving approximately $11.8 million in combined bonuses.
In Kentucky, Walmart associates are receiving approximately $11.8 million in combined bonuses.
The bonuses, along with an annual pay raise for hourly field associates, were included in their March 8 paycheck. Between Q4 performance bonuses, tenure-based bonuses, pay increases and recent paid time off (PTO) cash outs, more than $1 billion flowed to U.S. hourly associates during the months of February and March.
In January, Walmart announced plans to increase the starting wage for all hourly associates in the U.S. to at least $11, expand maternity and parental leave benefits, and provide a one-time cash bonus for eligible associates of up to $1,000. A new adoption assistance benefit of $5,000 per child – announced in conjunction with the other changes – went into effect on Feb. 1.
Walmart associates earn quarterly bonuses as part of an overall incentive plan designed to reward associates whose stores achieve sales and customer service goals. Hourly associates in Kentucky earned more than $3.2 million, following Q4 comp sales of 2.6 percent in Walmart U.S.
• For the full fiscal year, U.S. associates shared more than $625 million in performance-based bonuses, including more than $23.6 million shared by Kentucky associates.
• Walmart also recently cashed out to associates more than $300 million in unused paid time off (PTO).
“Our associates across the Commonwealth have shown their dedication to Walmart and we are proud to reward their hard work with something extra this pay period,” said Thomas Underwood, vice president and regional general manager for Walmart. “When our associates succeed, Walmart succeeds and that is never more evident than it is now.”
Walmart in Kentucky
Walmart’s recent pay raises are just one part of the company’s local investment and impact. In Kentucky, the company:
• Operates 105 retail units.
• Spent $1.3 billion with local suppliers, supporting more than 35,000 supplier jobs in 2017.*
• Paid more than $92.5 million in taxes and collected more than $243.4 million in sales taxes in 2017.
*Information supplied by Dunn & Bradstreet
From Walmart and NKyTribune staff
