Walmart will close its stores on Thanksgiving this year, and employees will receive another round of bonuses, the company announced Monday.

According to a statement from Walmart, stores will operate on normal business hours on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and will reopen on Friday, Nov. 27 at a time to be announced later. The move breaks a years-old tradition at the store, which typically has Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving Day.

In the statement, the retail giant said the move was provide employee with time with their families after working throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Walmart also announced employees will receive another round of bonuses. According to the statement, the bonus will be $300 for full-time hourly associates and $150 for part-time hourly and temporary associates. Drivers, managers and assistant managers in stores, clubs, distribution centers and other connected facilities will also receive a bonus, the statement said. It will add up to approximately $428 million.

“Our associates have been working at an incredible pace, they’ve solved problems, and they’ve set an amazing example for others,” said John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S. “To further appreciate their incredible work, we are pleased to share another special cash bonus this summer.”
U.S. associates, excluding salaried office associates, employed by the company as of July 31 will qualify, and it will pay out on Aug. 20, the statement said. This is the third special bonus Walmart has given to associates in 2020, totaling $1.1 billion in bonuses so far this year, in addition to the regular incentive it provides to frontline associates on a quarterly basis, the statement said.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic, I’ve been so proud to see how our associates have pulled together to take care of each other and our members,” said Kathryn McLay, President and CEO of Sam’s Club. “These are extraordinary times, and our associates have lifted each other up in extraordinary ways, and we are so grateful.”