Walmart to Convert Two-Thirds of Temporary Workers to Full-Time Within the Year... Securing Workforce Valued Amid COVID-19

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, will convert two-thirds of its part-time workers in the U.S. to full-time employees within this year.

According to Bloomberg on the 14th (local time), Walmart announced that by the end of the fiscal year ending January 2022, two-thirds of part-time workers in the U.S. are expected to be converted to full-time positions. This represents an increase of about 100,000 compared to five years ago.

Bloomberg analyzed, "Walmart's move will be effective in retaining workers who might leave for competitors."

Previously, Walmart competed with Target, Costco, Amazon, and others to secure manpower as demand surged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Walmart hired 500,000 people to respond to the demand.

Drew Holler, Senior Vice President of Walmart's Talent Innovation Team, stated, "It is more important than ever to secure full-time employees now."

Walmart said that over 80% of its warehouse staff are already full-time employees.

Recently, Walmart has been focusing on raising the minimum wage and improving welfare systems to secure manpower. In the past, Walmart was notorious for poor treatment and faced criticism for strict dress codes. Recently, as the labor shortage worsened due to COVID-19, Walmart implemented policies such as parental leave, offering $1 per day for college tuition, and relaxing dress code regulations for workers.