Walmart Expands Military Leave of Absence Policy for its Associates, Removing Barriers to Service
23 May 2017 - 11:00PM
Business Wire
Company announces more than 170,000 veteran
hires since 2013 and grants $100,000 to Tragedy Assistance Program
for Survivors (TAPS)
Today, Walmart announced expansions to its military leave of
absence policy, offering differential pay to all eligible military
associates taking on assignments lasting more than three days and
through the duration of leave – including basic training. Walmart
has offered differential pay since 2008. The enhancements, which go
into effect June 24, mean that if an associate’s military salary is
less than what they were making at their job at Walmart, the
company will pay them the difference while they are on a military
leave of absence. In 2016, Walmart associates took more than 4,400
military leave of absences.
Walmart is one of the first major retailers to apply
differential pay to include basic training, so associates who are
considering enlisting in the armed forces can make that decision
without fear of losing wages. In addition, Walmart is taking steps
to streamline and simplify the internal process required to obtain
differential pay with the goal of making it easier on associates
and their families, so they can spend less time on paperwork and
more time on their service.
“At Walmart, we’re turning jobs into fulfilling careers for
veterans, active service members and their families, and we’re
making it easier for them to work, live and serve,” said Retired
Brigadier General Gary Profit, senior director of military programs
for Walmart. “We believe that anyone who wants to serve in our
Armed Forces should be able to do so without fear of losing wages
or leaving their family in a lurch. The changes we’re making will
remove financial barriers for all associates serving their country,
including those who are starting their service journey through
basic training.”
The changes build upon Walmart’s already-robust support for
veterans, military members and their families.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, in 2016, more than
200,000 men and women serving in the military transitioned to
civilian life, and many find it difficult to navigate multiple
agencies offering job placement and other services. To date,
Walmart hired more than 170,000 veterans since it announced its
Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in May 2013*. Of those veteran
hires, more than 22,000 have been promoted to jobs with higher pay
and greater responsibility.
On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart introduced the Veterans Welcome
Home Commitment, which guaranteed a job offer to any eligible,
honorably discharged U.S. veteran who was within 12 months of
active duty. The initial goal was to hire 100,000 veterans by the
end of 2018. In May of 2015, Walmart announced the expansion of
that original projection, with the goal of hiring 250,000 veterans
by the end of 2020. Walmart has also changed the eligibility from
within 12 months of active duty, to any veteran who has been
honorably discharged since the announcement of the commitment in
May 2013.
In addition to its commitment to hiring veterans, Walmart also
ensures their family members can build long-lasting careers.
Walmart’s Military Family Promise guarantees a job at a nearby
store or Sam’s Club for all military personnel and military spouses
employed by Walmart and Sam’s Club who move to a different part of
the country because they or their spouse have been transferred by
the United States military. Walmart also participates in the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes Program, recruiting tens of
thousands of veterans through career fairs.
To recognize families who have made the ultimate sacrifice,
Walmart is also announcing a $100,000 grant to the Tragedy
Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the national
organization that offers help, hope and healing to all those
grieving the death of a loved one serving in the Armed Forces. The
grant will enable TAPS to reach more survivors through their
Casework and Emergency Assistance Programs.
“As a military widow, I know how isolating it can be to lose a
loved one,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS president and founder and a
2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. “The critically
needed support provided by Walmart will enable TAPS to offer
assistance to military families when they need it most, after the
loss of their hero. We are grateful for our partnership with
Walmart, which engages their employees across the nation and brings
the strength of their brand to positively impact the lives of the
families of America's fallen heroes. On behalf of over 70,000
surviving military families who receive support from TAPS, we thank
Walmart for leading the way in caring for those who have sacrificed
for our nation's freedoms."
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have a long history of
supporting veterans, service members and their families. In 2011,
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation committed $20 million by 2015 to
support veterans and their families with assistance for programs
that provide job training, transition help and education. With the
early completion of the commitment in May 2014, Walmart and the
Walmart Foundation renewed the commitment, announcing an additional
$20 million through 2019 to support job training, education and
innovative public/private community-based initiatives that address
challenges many veterans face when returning to civilian life.
For more information about Walmart’s commitment to veterans,
service members and military families, please visit:
http://www.walmartcareerswithamission.com/ or
http://corporate.walmart.com/global-responsibility/veterans-military-families/
and follow on Twitter @WalmartToday.
*Editor’s Note: These projections and reported hires/promotions
include veterans hired under our original and expanded Commitment
as well as other veterans hired by Walmart in this time frame.
While we think it is particularly important to support service
members as they make the transition to civilian life, Walmart
believes all veterans deserve our respect and support, no matter
when they left active duty.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world
save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail
stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, over
260 million customers and members visit our 11,695 stores under 59
banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries.
With fiscal year 2017 revenue of $485.9 billion, Walmart employs
approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues
to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and
employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be
found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on
Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter
at http://twitter.com/walmart.
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WalmartBlair Cromwell,
1-800-331-0085news.walmart.com/reporter
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