Walmart To Reduce Hours, Services, & Provide
Exclusive Shopping Time For Senior Citizens
By Dacona Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer, Walmart U.S.
Our associates have been nothing short of heroic in their commitment
to serve customers, stock shelves as quickly as possible and keep
their stores clean. When their communities needed them the most, our
people have been at their best. Their efforts continue to be a
tremendous source of pride for everyone at Walmart. Over the
weekend we adjusted our operating hours to help make it easier for
associates to stock and perform enhanced cleaning and sanitizing.
We're pleased with the results we are seeing and will take additional
steps beginning Thursday, March 19.
Store Operating Hours
Walmart U.S. stores will adjust operating hours to 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Stores that open later than 7 a.m. will continue their regular starting
hours. This will further help associates restock the shelves for
customers while continuing to clean and sanitize the store. While the
store hours change for customers, our associates will continue to have
access to their regular scheduled shifts and full hours.
Special Shopping Hours
We know our older customers could be more vulnerable to the
coronavirus and to better support them, Walmart is offering special
shopping hours. From March 24 through April 28, Walmart stores will
host an hour-long senior shopping event every Tuesday for customers
aged 60 and older. This will start one hour before the store opens. Our
Pharmacies and Vision Centers will also be open during this time.
Item Limitations
We know communities are counting on us more than ever and we are
determined to serve the broadest number of customers and ensure
they have access to the key items they are looking for. Our stores will
have limits for customers in certain categories including paper
products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers,
wipes, formula and baby food.
Essential Services
Our people are working hard to have every part of the store ready to
serve customers. To help support our people and focus on the most
critical areas of the store right now, we will temporarily shut down our
Auto Care Centers to allow those associates to focus on stocking and
cleaning in the rest of the store. Also, our Vision Centers will operate
on their normal schedule, providing essential services only such as
glasses repair and helping customers pick up existing orders. We will
have at least one associate to serve the needs of our Vision Care
customers, while the other associates will help in the rest of the store.
I think every one of us has had to adjust our daily routines in some way,
and it's likely that could continue. We are paying very close attention to
our stores and communities and will continue making the necessary
changes to help make sure our associates are taken care of and that
our customers can get what they need. Let's all take care of each other
out there.