More than 1.2 million Walmart and Sam’s Club employees in the U.S. -- including 2,700 in the Boise area and more than 7,100 in the state of Idaho -- will receive a pay raise in their March 10th paycheck, Walmart corporate officials said.
The increases are part of the company’s two-year, $2.7 billion investment in higher pay, better training, clearer career paths and additional educational opportunities for its workers, according to a Walmart news release.
Walmart employees are eligible for quarterly cash bonuses based on the performance of their store.
For the full fiscal year, Walmart associates across the country earned more than $550 million in bonuses, including $5.2 million in Idaho.
Last year, Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club promoted more than 200,000 associates, including 1,600 in Idaho, to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility, the release stated. In addition, more than 150,000 associates, including 1,000 in Idaho were converted from part-time to full-time.
All Walmart employees hired before Jan. 1, 2016 will earn at least $10/hour.
New entry-level workers hired after Jan. 1 will continue to start at $9.00/hour and will move to at least $10/hour after successfully completing the company’s new retail skills and training program known as Pathways, the news release said.
Employees already earning more than $10/hour will see their annual pay increase starting in March rather than waiting until their anniversary date.
Anyone earning below the new minimum will automatically move up to the new minimum.
Walmart operates 27 stores in Idaho.
