Central Minnesota Walmart Employees Finally Getting a Raise

If you've ever worked for Walmart then you know they're not known for paying very livable wages. That has now changed as every employee just got a raise.

It all stems from Trump's tax cuts, giving more tax breaks to major corporations, and many of those corporations have decided to put that extra savings toward their work force.

Target raised their minimum hourly wage to $11 for all employees back in October, so it's only fair, and smart, that Walmart finally did the same thing.

Walmart employs 1.5 million people in the U.S. alone, and 2.2 million around the world, so this is a very large investment into their employees.

Walmart is also giving their longer tenured full-time employees a $1000 bonus as well, and announced they are also helping with some other life event benefits. Chicago Tribune reported that Walmart is promising to help with adoptions, offering full-time hourly and salaried workers $5,000 per child that can be used for expenses such as adoption agency fees, translation fees and legal or court costs.

The biggest increase reported from the tax cuts comes from Waste Management, who increase minimum wages $2.50 and many employees a $2000 bonus.

The unemployment rate has been at a record low, 4.1%, for the last few months. This is the lowest it's been since 2000. Average hourly wages rose 2.5% since December, but it's still not enough to keep up with the cost of living.

Never-the-less, this is a great thing for central Minnesota's economy! Walmart employs hundreds of workers in this area, who all spend money here. With Walmart and Target raising their minimum wages, everybody wins in the St. Cloud area.