February 19, 2015
By Anne D'innocenzio
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas (AP) " Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (click here) is spending $1 billion to make changes to how it pays and trains hourly U.S. workers as the retailer tries to reshape the image that its stores offer dead-end jobs.
As part of its biggest investment in worker training and pay ever, Wal-Mart told The Associated Press that within the next six months it will give raises to about 500,000 workers, or nearly 40 percent of its 1.3 million employees. Wal-Mart follows other retailers that have boosted hourly pay recently, but because it's the largest private employer in the U.S., the impact of its move will be more closely watched.
In addition to raises, Wal-Mart said it plans to make changes to how workers are scheduled and add training programs for sales staff so that employees can more easily map out their future at the company.
"We are trying to create a meritocracy where you can start somewhere and end up just as high as your hard work and your capacity will enable you to go," CEO Doug McMillon told the AP during an interview this week at the company's headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas....
OUR Walmart - Organization United for Respect at Walmart (click here)
By Anne D'innocenzio
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas (AP) " Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (click here) is spending $1 billion to make changes to how it pays and trains hourly U.S. workers as the retailer tries to reshape the image that its stores offer dead-end jobs.
As part of its biggest investment in worker training and pay ever, Wal-Mart told The Associated Press that within the next six months it will give raises to about 500,000 workers, or nearly 40 percent of its 1.3 million employees. Wal-Mart follows other retailers that have boosted hourly pay recently, but because it's the largest private employer in the U.S., the impact of its move will be more closely watched.
In addition to raises, Wal-Mart said it plans to make changes to how workers are scheduled and add training programs for sales staff so that employees can more easily map out their future at the company.
"We are trying to create a meritocracy where you can start somewhere and end up just as high as your hard work and your capacity will enable you to go," CEO Doug McMillon told the AP during an interview this week at the company's headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas....
OUR Walmart - Organization United for Respect at Walmart (click here)
