The Associated Press reports that in what is called "the next wave of wage hikes by the nation's largest private employer," Walmart is raising the starting wages of more than 100,000 department managers and employees in various store departments.
According to the piece, "Wal-Mart told the Associated Press late Monday that department managers of complex and service-oriented jobs in areas like produce, electronics and auto care, will start at $13 per hour and top out at $24.70 per hour, beginning next month. Starting next February, they will be paid at least $15 per hour. Previously, the pay range was from $10.30 to $20.09. Meanwhile, those managers of less-complicated departments like clothing, and consumer products like paper towels and luggage, will earn from $10.90 to $20.71 per hour. Previously, they earned from $9.90 to $19.31."
The story notes that earlier this year Walmart "announced it was increasing minimum wages for entry-level and long-term hourly employees to at least $10 by next February. That increase affected 500,000 of its 1.3 million U.S. workers ... The wage hikes are part of a $1 billion program at Wal-Mart that also includes improving training and offering employees more control of their schedules."
According to the piece, "Wal-Mart told the Associated Press late Monday that department managers of complex and service-oriented jobs in areas like produce, electronics and auto care, will start at $13 per hour and top out at $24.70 per hour, beginning next month. Starting next February, they will be paid at least $15 per hour. Previously, the pay range was from $10.30 to $20.09. Meanwhile, those managers of less-complicated departments like clothing, and consumer products like paper towels and luggage, will earn from $10.90 to $20.71 per hour. Previously, they earned from $9.90 to $19.31."
The story notes that earlier this year Walmart "announced it was increasing minimum wages for entry-level and long-term hourly employees to at least $10 by next February. That increase affected 500,000 of its 1.3 million U.S. workers ... The wage hikes are part of a $1 billion program at Wal-Mart that also includes improving training and offering employees more control of their schedules."
- KC's View:
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This all strikes me as slow yet significant movement ... it may not be enough to pay these folks a living wage in some markets, but it at least seems to accept the premise that there are a lot of employees out there who are working hard and working long, but can't support their families. That alone is a big deal.
