Walmart Canada raises hourly store wages
Walmart Canada is investing C$53 million in higher wages for its hourly store associates.
The retailer said it has raised the hourly wage for approximately 40,000 of its store employees. The investment ensures that it continues to provide attractive pay in the markets they operate, the company said.
The increase comes as Walmart has been hiking the hourly pay and benefits of its U.S. store employees. In June, the retailer said it would pay annual bonuses to its full- and part-time hourly workers in stores, including hourly associates in the pharmacy and optical departments.
In addition, Walmart Canada noted it has prioritized investments in careers and technology. In September 2023, the retailer announced its commitment to ensuring their associates have the skills needed for the future. Through the Live Better U (LBU) educational program, Walmart covers 100% of the cost of tuition, books, and course fees for course offerings curated based on the new and future needs of the business.
To date, over 3,000 Walmart Canada associates have participated in this offering. This program marks a $50 million investment over the next five years in associate career-driven learning and development, offered through programs at top-tier schools across Canada.
“We’re on a journey of developing our talent, simplifying and modernizing how we work, investing in our teams, and strengthening our culture,” said AnnMarie Mercer, chief people officer, Walmart Canada.
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In addition to investing in wages, Walmart Canada recently made a “significant” investment in digital handheld devices for store employees. The devices will enable the employees to better support customers by looking up items more quickly in our system and allowing for faster, real-time communication between employees to better facilitate customer requests.
“As a people-led, tech-powered, omnichannel retailer, we know how important it is for our associates to have the right tools they need to do their job,” said Joe Schrauder, COO, Walmart Canada. “These devices play a critical role in helping our store associates perform their day-to-day tasks more efficiently and better serve our customers.”
Walmart Canada operates more than 400 stores nationwide.
