Walmart pays out $200 million in cash bonuses to hourly workers

Walmart hourly employees are being rewarded for helping to improve customers’ satisfaction with the discounter’s stores.



The world's largest retailer said Wednesday it awarded more than $200 million in second quarter cash bonuses to more than 900,000 hourly workers across the United States.



The bonuses, which were based on stores’ performances from May through July of this year, are part of an overall incentive plan designed to reward associates whose stores have met their performance and customer service goals.



Eligible associates can earn the bonuses four times a year. The most recent one amounts to about $222 for each hourly employee.



The bonuses come as the chain reported its eighth consecutive U.S. same-store sales increase, with a gain of 1.6% during the second quarter. Earnings came in at $1.07 a share, which was better than expected.