Walmart to hire 50,000 more workers in coronavirus-driven hiring spree

Walmart Inc said on Friday it'd hire 50,000 more workers at its stores, clubs and distribution centres to fulfil a surge in demand for groceries and household essentials from consumers stockpiling during the coronavirus outbreak.

The retailer said it had reached its earlier target of hiring 150,000 workers six weeks before schedule, taking in 5,000 people per day on the average at a time when millions of Americans are losing their jobs amid unprecedented "stay-at-home" orders from state and local governments.

The measures to manage the spread of the disease have brought economic activity to a virtual standstill, forcing companies to require drastic steps to save lots of cash.

The S&P 500 index has fallen 15% from its February record high, while Walmart's stock has surged over 10% within the same period.

Walmart said it had worked with over 70 companies that furloughed workers because of the pandemic to hire its 150,000 new employees, many of whom came from the restaurant and hospitality industries.

The company said 85% of the workers being hired are going into temporary or part-time roles.

Skyrocketing demand for food, hand sanitizer, toilet tissue and other household products has also prompted retailers Kroger, Target and Amazon.com Inc to hire by the thousands.

Separately, Walmart said it'll now require its U.S. staff to wear masks or other face coverings at work, making its face-covering policy mandatory from optional in line with public health guidance.

"This includes our stores, clubs, distribution and fulfilment centres also as in our corporate offices", Walmart U.S. President John Furner said in an exceeding memo.

The company is additionally extending its emergency leave policy through the end of May, in keeping with the memo.