- Walmart is wrapping up its tradition of starting Black Friday sales at the store on Thanksgiving Day.
- The company said Tuesday that all stores would be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
- Walmart also announced that it would pay a third round of bonuses to American employees in August.
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Walmart said Tuesday that it planned to keep all of its stores closed on Thanksgiving.
The closings, which affect both Walmart and Sam’s Club stores, mark a major departure from Walmart’s tradition of launching in-store Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving holiday, which is celebrated on the 26th. November this year.
“We know this has been a difficult year, and our associates have taken a step forward. We hope you enjoy a special Thanksgiving Day at home with your loved ones,” said John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart US, at a statement. “We are certainly grateful to our people for all of their efforts.”
Walmart generally opens its stores during regular Thanksgiving hours and removes parts dedicated to Black Friday sales and merchandise until door sales begin in the evening.
Last year, Walmart launched its sales at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. These offers often draw large crowds to Walmart stores.
Sam’s Club, the Walmart department store chain, will also be closed on Thanksgiving this year, as it has in previous years.
Walmart and other retailers that generally remain open on Thanksgiving in recent years have faced criticism that they don’t allow workers to spend the holidays with their families. In response, a growing number of retailers have begun closing their stores over the holidays.
In a note sent to American employees Tuesday announcing the change, Furner said the idea to close the stores came from a supervisor at a store in Texas.
“We know that Christmas shopping will be different this year and we will handle sales events differently,” Furner wrote. “Kevin Carlyle is the People Leader at Store # 475 in Round Rock, Texas. He recently wrote to us and suggested that we close Thanksgiving during this unusual year, so that our associates can spend the day with their families.”
Walmart says it will pay a third round of pandemic bonds
Walmart also announced Tuesday that it will provide another $ 150 to $ 300 bonus to employees on August 20.
This would mark Walmart’s third round of employee bonuses since the start of the pandemic, totaling $ 1.1 billion, the company said.
Full-time and part-time workers employed by the company as of July 31 will qualify for the bonus.
