This archive report was first published on 18 April 2020.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, Walmart has taken drastic measures to meet the surge in demand for groceries and household essentials. The retailer has announced plans to hire 50,000 more workers in the United States, bringing its total new hires to 150,000 since the outbreak began.
According to a statement from the company, the new hires will be in addition to the 100,000 workers already hired in recent weeks. The company has been working with over 70 companies that have furloughed workers due to the pandemic to hire its new employees, many of whom came from the restaurant and hospitality industries.
Walmart's decision to hire more workers comes as the S&P 500 index has fallen 15% from its February record high, while the company's stock has surged more than 10% in the same period. The company's U.S. President, John Furner, said in a memo that the company will now require its U.S. staff to wear masks or other face coverings at work, making its face-covering policy mandatory from optional in line with public health guidance.
Separately, Walmart has extended its emergency leave policy through the end of May, according to the memo. The company's efforts to meet the surge in demand for groceries and household essentials have been echoed by other retailers, including Kroger, Target, and Amazon.com Inc, which have also hired thousands of new workers.
