Walmart, the largest private employer in the U.S., has reduced starting pay for new store employees involved in picking and packing online orders and restocking shelves. The move raises questions about whether companies are facing a cooling labor market or adjusting to a return to pre-pandemic shopping patterns. New employees on the digital or stocking teams now earn around a dollar less per hour than if they were hired several months ago.
However, Walmart clarified that no current employees in these roles faced a pay cut. The company also adjusted pay bands for more experienced employees, increasing wages for approximately 50,000 store employees. Walmart’s decision reflects efforts to maintain consistent starting pay across different roles and ensure better customer service. The retailer’s e-commerce sales have remained strong but not as robust as in the early pandemic period.