Editor's Pick
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.
Walmart, the largest private sector employer in Indiana, is rolling out a new bonus and other benefits for hourly workers.
The Northwest Arkansas-based retailer, the largest brick-and-mortar retailer in the United States, is now offering annual bonuses of up to $1,000 for full- and part-time hourly employees at its stores. Up to 17,000 of its hourly store employees in Indiana will qualify for the new bonus.
They have to be employed by Walmart for a year to qualify.
The retail giant said it has increased hourly wages by 30% over the last five years. It now pays an average hourly wage of around $18.
Walmart has a major footprint in the Calumet Region with stores in Hammond, Hobart, Schererville, Portage, Michigan City, LaPorte and Valparaiso. The company announced the new benefits to its employees Wednesday.
People are also reading…
Walmart is launching an associate-to-technician pipeline program that trains its employees to work in technical roles in areas likefacilities maintenance, refrigeration and HVAC and automation. Those technician jobs pay between $19 and $45 an hour.
The company started the program in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and is looking to roll it out more widely.
Walmart also aims to double certificates in its Live Better U program, offering employees more than 50 skills certificates. The program aims to fast-rack hourly employees to more than 100,000 higher-paying, in-demand jobs in its stores, clubs and supply chain. Employees for instance can train to become pharmacy technicians, opticians and software engineers.
A look back at Northwest Indiana businesses that closed in 2023
A look back at Region businesses that closed in 2023
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Beer Geeks, one of the Region's first, most beloved and most influential craft beer bars, closed after more than a decade and is being reimagined as a new concept.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
88-year-old White Castle in Whiting, one of Chicago area's first, coming down to be replaced with new restaurant
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
The landmark 88-year-old castle-shaped White Castle in Whiting is coming down to be replaced with a newer, larger, more modern White Castle restaurant.
Local News
Editor's Pick
Silver Bullet Bar in downtown Crown Point closes
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
A longtime staple in downtown Crown Point poured its last drink.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Westforth Sports gun shop in Cal Township closing after 66 years
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The longtime Westforth Sports gun shop is closing.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Lansing plant to close, laying off 274 workers
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The Silver Line Building Products plant at16801 Exchange Ave. will be shuttered permanently.
Localbusinesses
Highland's Brewfest to pour last beer, eying move to Lowell
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Brewfest in Highland will close in what's been called "an end of an era."
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, could close all stores
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and could close all stores if no buyer emerges to save it.
Whiting News
Alert Top Story Urgent
88-year-old Whiting White Castle will end up on display in museums in Illinois and Indiana
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
The 88-year-old Whiting White Castlewill be remembered with displays at museums in two different states.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent Topical
88-year-old Whiting White Castle serves last sliders to nostalgic crowd
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
For years, the "millionaire's club" met every morning in the corner booth of the historic 88-year-old White Castle at Indianapolis Boulevard and 119th Street in downtown Whiting. The landmark restaurant served its final slider Tuesday.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
One of Northwest Indiana's most popular and enduring hobby shops is looking for a buyer after the longtime owner died.
Local News
Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
J&L This N That Consignment Shop, a popular thrift store, closed in downtown Whiting after a run of several years.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Calumet Fisheries temporarily closed after failing health inspection
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
A Calumet Region institution, Calumet Fisheries on the far South Side of Chicago, is temporarily closed after failing a city health inspection.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Calumet Fisheries suffers fire shortly after reopening after health inspection closure
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Just days after reopeningafter city health inspectors shut it down, Calumet Fisheries suffered a major fire.
Local News
Alert
Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso after 43 years
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Former Beer Geeks bar closes after rebranding
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Beer Geeks in Highland rebranded as B-Side Bar & Lounge and then closed within a few months.
Top Story Urgent
Bed Bath and Beyond to close Valparaiso store and multiple Chicagoland locations, leaving just one Region location left
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Troubled retailerBed Bath and Beyond will permanently close its Valparaiso location as it shutters more stores nationwide as it looks to restructure and shrink its footprint to save the struggling business.
Local News
Alert Urgent
Peoples Bank closes downtown Hammond branch
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Peoples Bank has shuttered its branch in downtown Hammond.
Business
Editor's Pick
Viking Artisan Ales to close Merrillville taproom
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Viking Artisan Ales will soon pour its last craft beer at its Merrillville taproom.
Local News
Alert Top Story
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is closing after 15 years at one of Northwest Indiana's most prominent highway interchanges.
Local News
Urgent
Walmart closing Homewood store
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Walmart is closing its big-box store in Homewood.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Chicago Auto Show returns with smaller footprint, no Camp Jeep track
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The Chicago Auto Show, the nation's largest auto show, returns to McCormick Place Saturday, running through Feb. 19.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Munster-based Land O'Frost laying off 215 workers in Chicago
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Munster-based Land O'Frost, the packaged lunchmeat giant, is laying off 215 workers in Chicago and shuttering a plant it acquired two years ago.
0 Comments
Tags
- Local News
'); var s = document.createElement('script'); s.setAttribute('src', 'https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js'); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); __tnt.log('Load Rev Content'); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); }
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
- Author facebook
- Author twitter
- Author email
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
