It’s time to start the new year at Wal-Mart Stores and that typically signals the end of road for some corporate employees. The retail giant eliminated about 50 positions at its corporate headquarters in Bentonville on Wednesday (Jan. 28), according to a corporate spokesman. (The 75 pink slips formerly stated by The City Wire and other media sources was higher than the actual number.)
"February is the start of Walmart’s fiscal year, and it’s common for individual departments at the home office to make adjustments at this time of year to better support their and the company’s goals for the upcoming year. As part of these changes, a small number of departments did eliminate some positions. These decisions are never easy, and we are committed to doing the right thing for those affected. We believe these changes will help the company quickly adapt to meet the changing needs of our customers," Wal-Mart noted in the corporate statement.
Wal-Mart is one of the largest corporate employers in the state with an estimated 12,000 employees at its headquarters. The pink slips issued this week pale in comparison to the 2,300 issued by Sam’s Club last year as it streamlined it management teams and the 300 corporate layoffs Wal-Mart reported in 2011.
The retail giant said workers were told some time back their jobs were being eliminated and those affected are encouraged to apply for open positions within the company.