Walmart employs 1.5 million people and has around 5,000 stores in the U.S. So it is not uncommon for staff to request store transfers.
If you’re looking to transfer from one Walmart store to another or to transfer between departments in your current store then here’s what you need to know;
How Long Do You Have To Work At Walmart To Transfer?
To be able to transfer from one Walmart store to another you need to have been working at Walmart for at least 6 months.
However, in exceptional circumstances, hardship transfers may be permitted in cases where a transfer is requested for medical, legal or family obligations.
How To Transfer To A Different Walmart Branch
To transfer to a different Walmart branch follow these steps:
- First you need to check if there are jobs available at the store you wish to transfer to. The easiest way to do this is to phone the HR department and check.
- If there is a role available try and speak to the managers there to let them know you are interested. They are also likely to need a formal letter outlining where you wish to transfer to and the reasons why.
- Then speak to your current boss to confirm that they are willing to authorize a transfer.
- You will then need to interview for the role.
- If you are offered the job then the stores will negotiate to confirm the date on which the transfer will occur.
How To Transfer Between Walmart Departments
The procedure for transferring between Walmart departments is much the same as the procedure for transferring to a different branch:
- Check if there are jobs available in the department you wish to transfer to. The easiest way to do this is to speak to the department manager.
- Speak to your current department manager and ask if they would be willing to authorize a transfer. In some cases they will also request a formal letter.
- Interview for the role.
- Your department managers will then negotiate a transfer date, this can be a lot quicker than a store transfer, though this will depend on a wide range of factors.
How To Write A Formal Transfer Request
Keep your letter concise and to the point, it should be written in the same format as our example below:
Copy the text version below to make your own transfer request:
[Your Name]
[Your Walmart Identification Number]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
[Date]
Dear [Store managers name],
My name is [name] and I have been working in [department] as a [role] since [date].
I am writing to request a transfer to the Walmart store in [specific location].
The reason for my request is…
Sincerely,
[your name and signature]
[Position]
[Department]
How Long Do Transfers Typically Take?
Transfers can take anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months to go through.
The waiting period depends on a range of factors including how quickly your current store thinks they’ll be able to get a replacement and if your current store is heading into a busy period they are likely to want to keep you on until things quieten down.
On average it is reasonable to expect to wait three months until your transfer is completed.
If you have requested a hardship transfer then it is likely to go through much quicker, in more like 3-4 weeks.
Walmart Hardship Transfers
Walmart does offer hardship transfers for employees who are facing exceptional circumstances.
You do not need to have worked at Walmart for 6 months to request a hardship transfer.
Hardship transfers can be used for the following reasons:
- Medical issues
- Family obligations
- Legal issues
- Emergency relocations
Hardship transfers are much quicker to process than typical transfers due to their emergency nature, typically you can expect a hardship transfer to take no more than 4 weeks to be finalized once it has been approved.
In many cases people may feel that when they fall on hard times they are left with no choice but to quit their job at Walmart however Walmart are very accommodating and will do whatever they can to make your role work for you including allowing you to quickly transfer to a store in a more convenient location.
