* This is a living document that will be updated on a regular basis until it is no longer needed. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Sam’s Club coronavirus update page.
March 19
Message to Sam’s Club Associates from Kath McLay, CEO of Sam’s Club
The messages have been pouring in from our members. In the face of these extraordinary times, you are serving them in ways we would never have imagined just a few short weeks ago.
“I was there on a busy day when the public was beginning to panic and stock up due to coronavirus,” one member from Saginaw, Mich., recently wrote. “Everyone was calm, patient and friendly. I appreciated the entire experience as a lesson in humanity.”
When I read words like that, I am so proud to be on your team. Because of your passion and relentlessness, we are taking care of our members in everyday and heroic ways. We are giving our members a reliable, critical service when they need it most. Your commitment is making a difference. Thank you.
But this effort is not without challenges. You and your families have had to adjust as schools and daycares have closed around the country.
We are so grateful for all your hard work and sacrifices, and today we are announcing several initiatives to reward and support you:
First, hourly associates who work in stores, clubs, our supply chain, and corporate offices will receive a special bonus on April 2. Full-time associates will receive $300, and part-time associates will receive $150. Every hourly associate employed by the company as of March 1 and still employed as of March 24 will qualify.
Second, we will prepay a portion of our upcoming Q1 SamShare bonuses, so that you will receive money in late April. We will pay those bonuses as if the company achieved its first quarter plan. At the regularly scheduled time for bonus payout in May, that amount may increase based on your club’s performance. You will receive more details on this tomorrow. We really want to support you with a portion of the bonus early.
Third, today Walmart and Sam’s Club are announcing plans to hire 150,000 new associates to work in our stores, clubs, and fulfillment centers, to help support you as you deal with the current level of demand. We are working to temporarily reduce our usual two-week application process to onboard associates more quickly. If you know individuals who need work and would make great additions to the Sam’s Club team, please encourage them to apply through https://careers.walmart.com.
Sams Club Hiring Announcement
This is in addition to our announcement yesterday that we are providing time for field associates in clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers to shop before regular club hours tomorrow morning from 6-8 a.m. We know that you have been busy serving our members, and we want to ensure that you have time to take care of you and your loved ones’ personal shopping needs.
For more information about these announcements and other coronavirus issues including our associate leave policy, please visit www.walmart.com/coronavirus
So, Sam’s Club associates, thank you. Thank you for these last few weeks. Thank you for the weeks to come. Thank you for the things you do that go unnoticed. Thank you.
This pandemic will pass. Things will go back to normal. But we will never forget that our associates were among the heroes who got us through.
Sincerely,
Kath McLay
Chief Executive Officer, Sam’s Club
March 15
New club hours and how we’re prioritizing members:
To our members and friends, we want to take a minute and thank you for your business and your patience these last few weeks. You are the reason we do what we do, and it is a pleasure to serve you every day.
We want to let you know that, starting Tuesday, 3/17 we are shifting all club opening hours to 9 am – 8 pm, Monday – Saturday. This is to ensure our associates have ample time to restock, clean and sanitize each club, and to provide you the best possible experience. Our Sunday hours will remain 10 am – 6 pm. Prescheduled Club Pickup orders will still be available for pickup starting at 7am.
It’s an unprecedented time for all of us and we know we have had out-of-stock items in our clubs. We continue to work around the clock to restock those items as we know it’s so important to get you and your families the things you came in for. That’s why we may also periodically limit the quantity on certain items per member – to ensure more people have access to the products they need.
If you’re experiencing long lines, we encourage you to use our patented Scan & Go feature in our Sam’s Club app. Simply scan your items with your phone, add them to your cart, and skip the checkout line altogether.
You are our #1 priority, and we will do whatever it takes to make sure your experience at Sam’s Club is a safe one. We hope to continue to be a helping hand as we navigate these uncharted waters together. Thank you for your continued trust, loyalty and patience.
March 11
Editor’s note: Kath McLay, President and CEO –Sam’s Club, sent the following note to all members.
An update regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) for our members:
Thank you for being a valued Sam’s Club Member. You’re the reason we do what we do, so I wanted to personally reach out to you regarding the current coronavirus situation. As I’m sure you’ve seen, there continues to be an influx of new information each day. So I appreciate the chance to update you on what we’re doing right now at Sam’s Club to protect you and your family.
1. Your Safety
First, I want to assure you that your safety and the safety of all of our members and associates remain our top priority. And that means you can shop us with confidence. Here are some of the measures we’ve taken in recent days
- We’ve gone back and reinforced our industry-leading practices and policies regarding how we clean our clubs. Our goal – in this time and always – is to ensure a clean, safe, and sanitary environment, and our associates are exceeding the guidelines for cleanliness set in place by the CDC.
- We’ve increased the frequency of our cleaning assignments, particularly in the restrooms, café, and drinking fountains.
- We are wiping down our shopping carts with disinfectant after every use.
- We have worked with our demo partners to enhance our already rigorous safety and sanitation guidelines.
- We are posting hand sanitizer at every entrance and exit, and at designated registers.
- We’re providing our associates up-to-date information to keep them – and their families – informed, aware and protected throughout this situation.
2. Out-of-Stock Items
We are seeing increasing numbers of shoppers in our clubs, and certain items like paper products and cleaning supplies are in high demand. Please know we are working to replenish these items as fast as humanly possible. We’ll continue to work night and day to get these products to you.
3. Skip the checkout line by using our app
If you haven’t tried it yet, now is a great time to check out our Scan & Go in the Sam’s Club app. Simply scan each item as you put it in the cart, and then walk straight to the exit. No checkout lines. And of course, as always, we offer delivery to home and pick-up in club via the app as well.
Thank you for your patience and trust in us, and for being the heart of our business. You are the reason that 100,000 Sam’s Club associates come to work each day. I promise that we will work harder than ever during this time to earn (and keep) that trust, and to live up to our rallying cry of delivering something special to you on every visit.
Sincerely,
Kath McLay
Chief Executive Officer, Sam’s Club