In a letter to all Walmart associates, Doug Mcmillon, Walmart's president and CEO released a statement that there will be a “package of changes” within 2015, and raising wages was one of them.
“For our current associates, we’ll start by raising our entry wage to at least $9 an hour in April, and by February of next year, all current associates will earn at least $10 an hour,” said Mcmillon.
The new minimum wage for Walmart is now a $1.74 higher than the federal based minimum wage. This will, in return, cost the corporation about $1 billion to put these changes into place.
Mcmillon also stated that there will be plenty of opportunities in these new changes. From the list written by the corporation, “The company is piloting an onboarding and training program that will create clear career paths for associates so they know what is expected of them in order to move from entry level positions to jobs with more responsibility that pay $15 an hour or more.”
For Farmville residents, this will be a big change. Walmart is the highest hiring business in the area. It is also a place that holds a lot of people living below the poverty line.
“The Farmville Walmart simply does not help some employees make ends meet. I occasionally have to drive a couple employees home because they cannot afford a car to get to work. I hope the raise will at least allow them to begin saving up. I just hope that the raise will not cause the price of groceries to go up or the number of associates to decrease,” said Chad Claybrook, a Longwood student and Walmart associate of Farmville.
After working there for three years, Claybrook is still doubtful that these changes will help the environment.
Soon to follow Walmart’s footsteps is TJ Maxx, Ikea, and the Gap. The corporation has been the kick starter for raising minimum wage all over the country.
