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Shown is a Walmart in Warrington, Pa., Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Shown is a Walmart in Warrington, Pa., Tuesday, March 17, 2020. [AP Photo | Matt Rourke]

Walmart Designates Senior Hours, Will Give Bonuses to Hourly Employees

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BENTONVILLE, Ark. (WOUB) — Walmart has announced several initiatives to serve customers and employees during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Senior shopping hours

On Tuesdays from March 24 through April 28, Walmart stores will have a “senior shopping event” for customers 60 and older. The company says this will start one hour before the store opens, and that the pharmacies and vision centers will be open during this time. For the Athens, Ohio Walmart, this means the senior shopping hour is from 6a.m.-7a.m. on Tuesdays, beginning March 24.

Hiring more employees

Walmart will hire 150,000 new associates through the end of May, and says it is expediting the hiring process. These will be part-time jobs “at first,” but the company says “many will convert to permanent roles over time.”

Adjusted hours

The Athens Walmart will be open from 7a.m. until 8:30p.m. until further notice.

Cash bonuses for hourly employees

Walmart also announced it will give a $300 cash bonus for full-time hourly associates, and a $150 cash bonus for part-time hourly associates. This applies to any hourly employee who worked for the company as of March 1, 2020 in stores, clubs, supply chain, and offices. The bonus will pay out on April 2.

Additionally, the company says it will accelerate the next scheduled quarterly bonus for associates.

Item limitations

Walmart says stores will have item limits for certain items ” including paper products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.”