Most of Wal-Mart’s U.S. employees will get raises in February 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, including more than 2,500 in the Chattanooga area, 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 average full-time hourly wage will become $13.38.
Wal-Mart also announced a new paid time-off policy to make vacation days available immediately as they’re earned and eliminating a previous requirement that employees wait one day before taking sick time. Wal-Mart said the company also is adding a new short-term disability plan that also will take effect this year at no cost to full-time hourly employees.