Hawai‘i Walmart Associates Receive $2M in Bonuses

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Hawai‘i Walmart associates are receiving approximately $2 million in combined bonuses in their paychecks today, Thursday, March 8, 2018.

More than 890,000 Walmart U.S. associates are receiving a share of more than $560 million in total cash bonuses, including more than $160 million in cash bonuses based on their stores’ fourth-quarter performance, and more than $400 million in one-time cash bonuses tied to recent changes in tax law.

Dale Yamashita serves as department manager for electronics at the Kailua-Kona Walmart, where she has worked for more than 22 years.

“When I started at Walmart in 1995, I had no idea I would still be here today as a department manager, said Yamashita. “It’s such a great family-oriented company to work for. Customers know me by name when I see them in the store and in our community. And, I love the MyShare bonus program. It challenges us as a team to reach our sales and safety goals together each quarter. Plus the one-time bonus is so awesome.”

Loni Mercado joined the Kailua-Kona Walmart 19 years ago as a jewelry associate. Today she works as a claims supervisor and also serves as the girls softball head coach at Kealakehe High School.

“Walmart supports my giving back to the community as a coach and is flexible with my work schedule,” said Mercado. “The MyShare bonus is awesome, we have something to strive for as a team and the one-time bonus sparks that fire of what we do everyday—help the customer.”

Shana Melendez said it feels like she’s working with family at Hilo Walmart. She will make 20 years with the store on April 15, 2018.

“I love it here and am so thankful for the bonuses,” said Melendez. “It’s like a Christmas blessing! I’m happy to work for a company that takes care of their people.”

Apparently, so do several of her family members. Her mom has worked at the Hilo store for 23 years, her husband for 14 years, and her oldest daughter just started at the store.

“It’s a great day for our Walmart stores in Hawai‘i,” said Lance McAlister, Hawai‘i market manager for Walmart. “All 10 of our Hawai‘i stores qualified for MyShare performance bonuses this quarter and I’m so proud of our more than 4,000 associates in the islands for coming together to make this happen. As our founder, Sam Walton, once said, ‘Individuals don’t win in business, teams do.’ And our exceptional teams in Hawai‘i are being celebrated today. Congratulations!”

More about Walmart’s benefits and bonuses

Between fourth-quarter performance bonuses, tenure-based bonuses, pay increases and recent paid time off cash outs, more than $1 billion flowed to U.S. hourly associates during the months of February and March.

In January, Walmart announced plans to expand maternity and parental leave benefits, and provide a one-time cash bonus for eligible associates of up to $1,000. A new adoption assistance benefit of $5,000 per child—announced in conjunction with the other changes—went into effect on Feb. 1.

Walmart associates earn quarterly bonuses as part of an overall incentive plan designed to reward associates whose stores achieve sales and customer service goals. Hourly associates in Hawai‘i earned more than $480,000, following fourth-quarter comp sales of 2.6% in Walmart U.S.

For the full fiscal year, U.S. associates shared more than $625 million in performance-based bonuses, including more than $3.9 million shared by Hawai‘i associates.

Walmart also recently cashed out to associates more than $300 million in unused paid time off.