On the same day the White House praised Walmart, owner of Sam’s Club, for raising pay and giving out worker bonuses because of the new lower corporate tax rate, Walmart confirmed that Sam’s Club was shutting down 63 stores, affecting roughly 9,450 employees in 23 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin). Federal law requires big employers to give affected workers 60 days written advance notice of a plant closing or mass layoff (“WARN notice”). An employer who does not provide WARN notice is liable to each employee for wages and benefits for the period of the violation, up to 60 days. According to press reports, the Sam’s Club closures allegedly happened without prior notice, and Walmart promised to offer “support and resources to those associates who are affected, including the bonus [recently] announced … and 60 days of pay, as well as severance to those eligible.” If you were affected by the closures (or know someone affected) and do not receive the wages and benefits required by law, please contact us to discuss your legal options.
