23 an hour, which translates into $13,861 annually, but it is still below the poverty line, which is set at $22,050. Those jobs alone account for over a third of the employees. Although being a cashier requires little education, Walmart could afford to increase their wages. Walmart makes more than $250 billion in revenue annually and could increase their hourly wages by at least a dollar, which would only increase its prices on products by a cent (UFCW Web). That way, the CEO wouldn't have to sacrifice his "meager" salary. Many people argue that since Walmart is in America, the CEO's have the right to pay their employees as they want. Unfortunately, even though this is America, retail competitors of Walmart, such as Target and Sears, pay their employees more. "In 2008, a worker in Massachusetts at one of Walmart's leading competitors earns, on average, more than 15% more than Walmart Associates" (McNamara, Melissa).
Not only do Walmart employees not make an adequate enough salary to support a family, the benefits that Walmart offers are not sufficient either. Walmart spokesperson Mona Williams admitted in 2004 that, "More than two thirds of our people. are not trying to support a family that's who our jobs are designed for" (Walmart Wages and Workers Rights). What this means is that the jobs that the jobs that Walmart offers are not designed for people supporting a family. Wake-Up Walmart is a website dedicated to bringing to light the wrong-doings that Walmart is committing. In one startling fact, Wake-Up Walmart demonstrates just how poorly the benefits are that Walmart employees receive. "An average full time Walmart Associate faces a serious family health issue. They have to pay the entire out-of-pocket maximum for the least expensive health plan, which adds up to pay 53% of their income. Most Walmart employees are even forced to rely on government run assistance.