Walmart expands store hours; keeps certain other COVID precautions in place
Walmart is adjusting some of the policies and processes it put in place during the last 15 months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting Saturday, June 5, the discounter’s store hours will expand from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (unless otherwise mandated by store or local government.) And beginning July 3, most of Walmart’s pharmacies and vision centers will resume pre-COVID operating hours.
The retailer has already made certain store adjustments as COVID cases level out and the number of fully vaccinated customers increase. It removed the 20% capacity restrictions across all its stores (store leadership, however, will monitor customer traffic during spikes in business). Also, based on the latest CDC guidance, fully vaccinated customers no longer need to wear a mask shopping and fully vaccinated employees can go mask-less at work. Both policies are subject to local laws and restrictions. (Employees who are not fully vaccinated are still required to wear a mask while on the job.)
In addition, Walmart has brought back seating to the waiting areas of its auto care centers (“with social distancing in mind”) and re-opened its fitting rooms where allowed.
But the chain is not lifting all its COVID-related measures. Dacona Smith, executive VP and COO, Walmart U.S., wrote a blog post that the company will continue to take a number of precautions to protect customers, including the following:
• Sanitizing shopping carts;
• Making hand sanitizer available at the front entrance;
• Keeping sneeze guards at all registers;
• Social distancing decals remain on the floor;
• Handwashing reminders are posted both on the sales floor and in restrooms;
• Ensuring restrooms are cleaned and stocked with supplies regularly; and
• Continued stepped-up cleaning and sanitizing measures across the store.
On the employee front, Walmart said employee and vendor health screenings continue at each shift, breakrooms and offices remain setup for social distancing and store meetings and huddles are run with social distancing in mind.
In addition, Walmart has extended all levels of COVID-19 emergency leave through September 30, 2021.
“For more than a year, our associates have been nothing less than heroic, both in their ability to continue to serve customers at a high level and through their resiliency as they faced the changes in their communities and work environment,” Smith wrote. “But, we know the work is not finished, and there will likely be more change to come. As a company, we will continue to maintain our focus and will remain ready to react and adjust as needed in order to ensure we are doing our very best to help keep our customers, associates and communities safe.”