Walmart is the biggest US employer, with over 2 million employees worldwide. (Amazon falls in second place with over half a million fewer employees than Walmart.)
As an employment powerhouse, Walmart aims to boost employee satisfaction through specific perks and benefits. One of the most popular and most-requested employee benefits (a 10% discount) was just expanded, much to the delight of Walmart associates.
Let’s look at Walmart as an employer and dive into the specifics of its employee benefits next!
Walmart history
Walmart has been a leading retailer in the United States for decades. Since the first Walmart opened in 1962, its popularity has grown significantly, with the number of US locations expanding to over 10,700 as of today. (And it’s made many changes over the years!)
You probably think of Walmart as a place to get shampoo, clothing (I distinctly remember back-to-school shopping there as a kid!), and cleaning supplies. Many customers hit up Walmart to fulfill their grocery lists, too.
Walmart & food
Walmart locations didn’t always sell groceries.. Before 1988, Walmart stores only sold non-food items, like clothing, electronics, and other goods.
In 1988, Walmart opened its first Supercenter, which offered grocery items in addition to regular merchandise. Many Walmart locations offer a variety of grocery items, from fresh fish, meat, and produce to frozen foods and dairy products.
Walmart Supercenters have the largest selection of grocery items, while some smaller Walmart locations have more of limited stock.
Employee benefits at Walmart
As a company, Walmart employs around 2.1 million people worldwide. Employees are referred to as associates, and there are around 1.6 million Walmart associates based in the United States.
Walmart offers several benefits to its employees. Some of these benefits vary depending on work status (full-time versus part-time, etc.) and include:
- 401(k) plans with matching up to 6%
- Assistance in obtaining a high school diploma or college degree (eligibility dependent)
- Cash bonuses and other incentives
- Paid time off
- Access to health, wellness, and financial programs
- Insurance (medical, dental, vision, life, and more)
New employee benefit
Recently, Walmart announced a new employee perk regarding its associate discount.
Previously, Walmart associates had access to a 10% discount on fresh produce and general merchandise year-round. The new change means that associates can use this 10% discount year-round on all food categories, including frozen food, seafood, dairy products, dry goods, and more.
According to Walmart’s Group Director & Global Head of Executive Total Rewards, the discount applies to 95% of regularly-priced items at Walmart. For employees who stay with Walmart for 20 years or more, this benefit becomes lifelong, regardless of whether the employee still works there.
Reason for the change
The employee discount change came about as concerns continue to grow over the rising cost of food. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food costs have risen by 5.8% since 2023.
There are several factors contributing to rising food costs, including inflation, ever-changing tariffs, increasing labor costs, and more.
Walmart’s expansion of its discount to all grocery items year-round is an effort to ease the budgets of its employees. Food costs are likely going to continue to rise as we see tariffs take effect, such as on imported produce and other goods (like coffee) from countries like Mexico, Brazil (a 50% tariff!), and Canada.
Walmart’s statements
Walmart’s Chief People Officer, Donna Morris, said that extending the 10% associate discount to more items year-round was “one of our most requested benefits,” according to a staff memo shared by the company.
(Previously, the employee discount was expanded to cover most food items only around the holidays, and then went back to applying to fresh produce and general merchandise.)
JD Mahaffey, Group Director & Global Head of Executive Total Rewards at Walmart, said in a LinkedIn post, “This update [to the employee discount] is another way we’re showing that we’re listening to you and acting on your ideas. Together, we’re making Walmart not just a great place to shop—but a great place to build a career.”
Walmart vs. other companies’ employee discounts
Walmart isn’t the only company offering its employees a discount for items from its stores. Let’s look at what competitors are offering their employees:
- Target: 10% discount on most items, including 20% off on select food and wellness products.
- Kroger’s: 10% off private label items as well as other items such as jewelry, home goods, and apparel, including 20% off select food and wellness items.
Some employers offer an even bigger discount to their employees…
- Whole Foods Market: 20% employee discount
- Trader Joe’s: 20% employee discount
Examples of 10% savings for employees
Just how much could Walmart employees save on food and merchandise using their associate discounts? Let’s look at a few real-life examples!
- 1.5 pounds of Angus beef sirloin steaks: $2.39 saved
- 65” Samsung Smart TV: $34.80 saved
- 128-count box of Pampers diapers: $3.97 saved
If employees are doing a lot of their shopping at Walmart, that discount can add up over time with $10 off every $100 spent…
Summary
Walmart is expanding its employee discount to all food items, all the time. Instead of only applying to fresh produce year-round, Walmart associates can enjoy a 10% discount on other grocery items, including meat, seafood, frozen food, dairy products, and dry goods.
Where do you do most of your grocery shopping? Would you ever consider working for a company solely based on its specific member benefits? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
Leave a Comment