Your Guide to Understanding Walmart‘s 90 Day Probation Period

Starting a new job can be stressful. You want to make a good impression on your new employer while also quickly getting up to speed. This balancing act can be nerve-wracking for any new hire.

Luckily, retail giant Walmart understands the challenges new employees face. That‘s why they utilize a standard 90 day probation period for all new hires. This allows you time to learn the role without immediate pressure.

In this comprehensive 2800+ word guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know as a new Walmart associate about successfully navigating your 90 day probation.

What Exactly is the 90 Day Probation Period at Walmart?

The 90 day probation is a standard human resources policy at Walmart stores and offices. It applies to new hires across hourly and management roles.

The purpose is two-fold:

1. It gives you time to fully understand your new job responsibilities through training.

2. It gives Walmart managers time to evaluate your job performance and fit within the company.

This mutual evaluation period lasts 90 calendar days from your official start date.

Within that time frame, your manager will assess metrics like:

• Job knowledge
• Adherence to policies
• Interactions with co-workers
• Attendance and punctuality
• Ability to meet core job requirements
• Openness to feedback

You‘ll receive regular check-ins and feedback from your direct supervisor. This keeps you informed on how you‘re performing.

If Walmart leadership is satisfied with your progress after 90 days, you‘ll successfully complete your probation. You then continue employment as a regular employee.

However, Walmart can terminate employment at any point during the 90 days if they see major issues. Common reasons for not passing probation include:

• Poor job performance
• Attendance problems
• Failure to follow policies
• Inability to meet requirements
• Conflicts with customers or co-workers

While this may seem stressful, try not to overthink it. The probation period is designed to set you up for success. As long as you put forward your best effort and maintain open communication with your manager, you should have no troubles passing.

Now let‘s look closer at why Walmart uses this evaluation timeframe…

Why Does Walmart Have a Probation Period?

Walmart did not decide on a 90 day probation arbitrarily. There are some compelling reasons why this standard exists:

Onboarding and Training Timeframe

• Walmart has extensive training programs for new hires that take 2-3 weeks to complete. This includes both computer-based learning and on-the-job training.

• Remaining time is given for you to gain experience and get comfortable performing your duties independently.

• 90 days ensures you have sufficient time to:

  • Learn Walmart protocols

  • Understand expectations

  • Build skills

  • Get up to speed on systems and tools

Performance Evaluation

• Accurately evaluating a new hire takes time. 90 days gives your manager a reasonable window to:

  • Assess strengths and weaknesses

  • Gauge abilities and aptitude

  • Identify areas for growth

  • Determine training gaps

• Walmart is investing in you. They want to make fair evaluations before continuing employment.

Cultural Fit Analysis

• Beyond job performance, Walmart wants to ensure you fit their values and work environment.

• 90 days gives both you and Walmart time to determine if you align with the company culture.

• This includes assessing your:

  • Attitude

  • Cooperation

  • Relationships with co-workers

  • Communication skills

• Great culture fit leads to higher engagement and retention.

Vetting Attendance

• Consistent attendance is hugely important in retail. One absent associate can significantly impact operations.

• The 90 day period allows Walmart to monitor your:

  • Overall attendance

  • Timeliness

  • Adherence to schedules

  • Notification of absences

• This ensures any issues are addressed prior to continuing employment.

As you can see, Walmart‘s probation guidelines are strategic and aim to set both you and the company up for long-term success.

What Should You Expect During Your 90 Days?

Now that you understand the "why" behind Walmart‘s probation, let‘s discuss what you can expect as a new associate during this period:

Completing Orientation

• Early on, you‘ll attend New Hire Orientation. This will likely happen your first week.

• Here you‘ll receive your handbook covering key policies, procedures, expectations, and company culture overview.

• Pay close attention and ask clarifying questions so you clearly understand Walmart guidelines.

Jumping into Training

• The first few weeks will involve extensive onboarding training specific to your role.

• For hourly store associates, this includes both computer-based learning and on-the-job training with a seasoned mentor. Those in corporate roles focus more on job shadowing.

• Be an active trainee – ask lots of questions, take notes, and practice skills. Show eagerness to learn.

Receiving Ongoing Performance Feedback

• Your direct manager will closely monitor and evaluate your performance throughout the 90 days.

• Expect regular check-ins and both formal and informal feedback sessions.

• This is not meant to criticize you, but to provide insight on where you are excelling and areas needing improvement.

• Be receptive to feedback so you can make corrections. Don‘t get defensive.

Openness to Coaching

• When your manager identifies opportunities for growth, they will coach you on how to get better.

• Examples may include suggestions on improving efficiency, re-training on procedures, or role playing customer interactions.

• Have a learning mindset. View coaching as supporting your success, not criticizing failures.

Focusing on Development

• Know that you won‘t be a perfect employee on day one. And that‘s okay.

• Your manager will be more interested in how quickly you‘re developing than your current expertise.

• Ask peers for help when needed. Volunteer for extra assignments to build skills. Pursue cross-training opportunities.

In summary, your 90 days will focus heavily on training, learning, assessments, feedback, and skill-building. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but this sets you up to excel at Walmart long-term.

How to Successfully Pass Your Probation Period

Now you may be wondering, "What do I need to do specifically to pass my 90 days at Walmart?"

Follow these tips and you‘ll be in great shape:

Show Up On Time Every Day

• Seems simple, but attendance is huge. Call outs and tardiness is noticed.

• Make punctuality a top priority. Set multiple alarm clocks if needed.

• If an absence is unavoidable, notify your manager ASAP. Don‘t wait until the last minute.

Dive Into Training Head First

• Complete all onboarding training promptly. Ask to shadow coworkers to gain practical experience.

• Request additional job aids or resources if you need more support. Don‘t fake competency.

• Raise your hand to volunteer if extra training opportunities are offered. Being eager to learn is key.

Speak Up With Questions

• No matter how long you‘ve worked, always ask clarifying questions rather than make mistakes.

• Don‘t assume you fully grasp a process after limited exposure. Seek opportunities for more practice.

• Ask peers for help understanding store systems. They‘ve recently been in your shoes.

Say Yes to Extra Tasks

• Offer to pitch in on extra assignments, even if they fall outside your normal duties.

• For example, if you‘re a cashier, offer to help with cart retrieval or store cleanup.

• Saying "yes" and being helpful makes you invaluable.

Follow Every Policy Diligently

• As learned in orientation, carefully follow all policies, procedures, and protocols. Don‘t take shortcuts.

• If you witness policy violations, report them anonymously through proper channels.

• Adherence shows you take the job seriously and align with Walmart‘s principles.

Meet (or Exceed) All Performance Standards

• Clearly understand what your manager expects in terms of job performance and metrics. Ask them to clarify if unsure.

• Aim to meet or beat standards in accuracy, efficiency, customer service, sales, etc.

• Strive for excellence. Don‘t just skate by. Exceeding expectations helps ensure you pass probation.

Bring Your "A Game" Attitude

• Negativity stands out. Leaders look for engaged, motivated team players.

• Come to work with energy and passion. Avoid gossiping or dwelling on the negatives.

• Offer solutions vs only raising problems. You want to be known as a catalyst for improving things.

Communicate Openly and Often

• Regularly communicate with your direct leader so you both understand how things are going.

• Don‘t wait for formal meetings to give or ask for feedback. Keep an open dialogue.

• If you feel overwhelmed or need more training, speak up immediately.

Build Relationships with Coworkers

• Get to know peers and avoid cliques. Having allies makes your first 90 days easier.

• Coworkers can relate to any struggles you face and offer practical advice. They‘re your support network.

• Experienced employees are great resources for answering job-related questions quickly.

Bring this checklist of recommendations to your first 90 days and I‘m confident you will excel during your Walmart probation period!

What Changes After Your Probation Period?

Once you successfully pass your 90 day probation, what are some of the key differences you can expect?

Increased Job Security

• Completing your probation satisfactorily means your employment status becomes more permanent.

• Walmart invested 90+ days in training and development, so they want to retain good employees.

Access to Full Benefits

• After probation, you become eligible to enroll in Walmart‘s benefits like health insurance, life insurance, and 401k.

• In 2022, benefits kicked in after first of the month following 60 days. But this varies year to year.

Accumulating Paid Time Off

• PTO starts accruing after your probationary period ends.

• In 2022, associates earned 1 hour of PTO for every 30 hours worked. This can be used for sick time or vacation.

• PTO improves work-life balance once you‘re an established employee.

Employee Discount Privileges

• Once off probation, you‘ll gain access to Walmart‘s employee discount card.

• This grants you 10% off general merchandise and fresh produce purchases.

• The discount is a nice perk and can equal huge savings for employees.

Relaxed Performance Management

• Managers won‘t monitor and evaluate you as closely once you‘re off probation.

• Annual performance reviews replace the monthly check-ins you experienced during your first 90 days.

• Expectations remain high, but managers give you more autonomy and flexibility.

Advanced Development Opportunities

• Increased training classes and development options open up post-probation.

• Examples may include department lead training, manager-in-training, specialized systems certifications.

• These classes help you advance your skills and career trajectory at Walmart.

Easier Internal Transfers

• Transferring to a new department or store becomes simpler once you pass probation.

• Requests are more readily approved for regular (vs probationary) employees.

• Transfers allow you to explore new roles as you evolve within the company.

While Walmart still expects strong performance even after probation, you gain greater rewards and flexibility as a proven team member.

What if You Don‘t Pass? Can You Reapply?

Hopefully you pass your 90 days without issues. But what if that doesn‘t happen?

Can you reapply to Walmart if terminated during or after probation?

The answer is yes, but your eligibility depends on why you were let go:

• If fired for severe misconduct (theft, harassment, etc), you‘ll be ineligible for re-hire. Don‘t expect a second chance.

• If fired for performance issues, you‘ll likely need to wait 6-12 months before reapplying. Use the time to brush up on retail skills.

• If you left voluntarily or were let go for unrelated reasons (sickness, family needs), you may reapply sooner.

When reapplying after a failed probation:

• Be prepared to explain why you‘ll be successful given a second chance. What will you do differently?

• Consider reapplying to a different location where you can start fresh.

• Address any development areas during interviews. Explain the progress you‘ve made.

• Bring letters of recommendation highlighting your abilities and work ethic.

• Start in a lower position to prove yourself again. Then work back up.

• Maintain excellent attendance and performance if hired again. You likely won‘t get a third try.

While a failed probation is discouraging, it‘s not the end. Reflect on the experience, make improvements, and demonstrate you have what it takes to pass a second time around. Persistence and a positive attitude go a long way.

Your Top 90 Day Probation Questions – Answered!

Let‘s wrap up with some frequently asked questions about Walmart‘s 90 day probation period:

Do all new Walmart employees go through a 90 day probation?

The probationary policy applies to the vast majority of new hires across stores and corporate offices. The only exceptions are short-term seasonal employees.

Can you get fired DURING the 90 days without warning?

Yes, Walmart can terminate employment at any point during your probation if there are serious performance or conduct issues. However, most probation periods end with the associate passing.

How many days in a row can you miss work during probation?

There is no set maximum, but calling out frequently looks very bad. Strive for perfect attendance. Only miss work truly unavoidable situations.

Do you get an employee discount during the 90 days?

No. You must successfully complete your probation before gaining access to Walmart‘s employee discount card. This gives you 10% off general merchandise and groceries.

What are some tips for passing probation?

Show up early every day, follow every policy, complete all trainings, ask clarifying questions, volunteer for extra work, have a positive attitude, and regularly communicate with your manager.

Does Walmart do a drug test for new hires?

Yes, all final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug screening before officially being hired. Failure to pass or refusal to test makes you ineligible for employment.

Can you reapply to Walmart if you don‘t pass probation?

You can reapply after 6+ months, but should reflect on why you failed and demonstrate improvement. Walmart will scrutinize rehires more closely, so your performance must be flawless.

Do you have to work weekends during the 90 day probation?

Usually yes. Most retail stores need all hands on deck during peak weekends. Be prepared to have a flexible schedule and work weekends during your first 90 days and beyond.

I hope these FAQs helped provide more clarity on successfully navigating your experience as a new Walmart associate. Best of luck with your new career opportunity! Please don‘t hesitate to reach out with any other questions.