Overnight Associate

'Every dollar matters': Walmart to pay nearly $120K to Seattle gig workers after settling alleged labor violations. Sep 8, 2026, 1:30 PM Content Editor Walmart will pay nearly $120,000 to 413 affected workers after the company settled allegations with the Office of Labor Standards (OLS). OLS investigated Walmart's Spark Delivery for alleged violations of the App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinance, and Walmart settled the allegations by agreeing to pay $119,528 to the impacted workers and $2,455 to the City of Seattle, OLS announced. OLS alleged that Walmart had failed to give workers minimum payment for offers, upfront information, 24-hour electronic receipts, weekly receipts, and notice of rights in accordance with the ordinance. "Thanks to app-based workers coming forward with complaints, the OLS enforcement team was able to investigate and uncover multiple violations of the minimum payment law," OLS Director Steven Marchese said. "By resolving this investigation with Walmart, OLS continues to hold companies accountable when they fail to comply with Seattle labor laws." Seattle worker advocates called the settlement a win for gig worker transparency. During the investigative period, Walmart had more than 400 workers in Seattle and thousands of workers worldwide. "This settlement with one of the world's largest multinational corporations underscores why app-based workers fought so hard to win transparency protections," Danielle Alvarado, executive director of Fair Work Center/Working Washington, said. "As a result of worker organizing, Seattle's ordinance requires apps to provide workers with all the pay they are owed and, just as crucially, the records to verify that pay is accurate. We are proud to live in a city that demonstrates its commitment to invest the public resources needed to enforce workers' rights and hold corporations accountable." Gig worker Bridgette Smallbeck-Poehler spoke to the many reasons why gig workers deserve to be properly compensated for their work, and what pushed her to speak out against Walmart. "Gig workers deserve to be treated fairly and paid for the work they do," Smallbeck-Poehler said. "Mynorthwest use its own vehicles, cover its own expenses, and dedicate its time to getting the job done, yet too often the compensation doesn't reflect that reality. As a single mother, every dollar matters, and standing up for what is right is not always easy. "I chose to speak up because I believed something was wrong, and OLS listened," she continued. "Their investigation showed that workers' voices matter and that [companies] must be held accountable. I hope this outcome encourages other gig workers to know they are not powerless. When we stand up for ourselves, we can create meaningful change."

Walmart grants $250,000 to support Indianapolis regional workforce initiative. The Indy Chamber announced on Sep. 8 a new regional workforce initiative supported by a $250,000 grant from Walmart to strengthen how Greater Indianapolis connects workers with skills, quality jobs, and opportunities for career advancement. The five-month planning effort will be led by the Indy Chamber in collaboration with CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership, Ascend Indiana, The Indianapolis Foundation, United Way of Central Indiana, EmployIndy, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana and other regional partners. The initiative aims to examine how existing workforce programs and partnerships can be better connected and scaled across the region. It directly supports the talent priorities of Accelerate Indy 2030 - the region's strategy for economic growth - including building stronger connections between employers, educators, and workforce partners to ensure residents have access to high-opportunity careers. "Greater Indianapolis has strong employers, workforce partners and training programs already doing important work across our region," said Matt Mindrum, president and CEO of the Indy Chamber. "This grant gives us an opportunity to connect those strengths more intentionally and build clearer pathways between people, skills and quality jobs. We're grateful to Walmart for supporting our efforts to create a workforce system that can respond to employers' evolving needs while expanding economic opportunity for workers across our region." As employers and workers navigate a labor market shaped by artificial intelligence and new technologies, the initiative will focus on strengthening existing systems rather than creating another standalone program. The planning process will include regional labor-market research, mapping of current assets, and engagement with employers, educators and community partners. Areas explored will include accelerated training tied to employer demand; employer-backed career mobility pathways; work-based learning; earn-and-learn opportunities; career navigation; as well as data- and skills-based hiring tools. "Indiana's economic competitiveness depends on our ability to connect people with the skills and opportunities needed in a rapidly changing economy," said Melina Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of CEOs of CICP. "Across Central Indiana, employers and workforce partners have already built strong foundations in many of our highest-opportunity industries. This grant gives us the chance to build on that momentum, better align talent with employer demand and create more accessible pathways for workers to advance into rewarding careers." By the end of the planning period, coalition members expect to identify high-impact strategies ready for implementation that can produce measurable outcomes in career mobility.

Walmart+ just added 2 new perks - here's whether they're worth it. New in-store perks could change the math on Walmart+. Updated Sept. 8, 2026 Fact checked For years, Walmart largely sold its Walmart+ membership as a convenience subscription. It's provided subscribers with cheap, easy ways to shop its stores and website from the comfort of their own couches. But as the retailer looks to attract more subscribers to the program, it's also expanding the types of benefits available to members. In its most recent updates, which were announced in August 2026, a few in-store perks were added that have nothing to do with placing an online order or making a return from home. These new benefits don't automatically make the membership more worth it. But for select shoppers who frequent the retailer for very specific reasons, they could make it easier to justify the annual cost - and change the math on whether Walmart+ pays off. Get a protection plan on all your appliances Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner's insurance won't cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more. Whether or not you're a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired. For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan. Walmart+ members get new benefits. Two store-based benefits were recently added to Walmart+ subscriptions: a monthly allotment of free photo prints with an annual cap, and quarterly fee-free money-services transactions at in-store Money Centers. Following August's updates, active and trial Walmart+ members now receive 25 free 4x6 photo prints each calendar month (for a total of 300 per year). They also get one customer fee-free money services transaction per calendar quarter at Walmart's Money Services or Customer Service Desk. Eligible services include check cashing, money transfers, bill payments, money orders & loading cash to a digital bank account via barcode. Walmart wants Walmart+ to work harder in stores. The changes are a part of a larger push to make the paid program pay off inside stores rather than just online. "Our stores, and the services they offer, allow us to serve Walmart+ members through a truly omnichannel experience, with greater flexibility and choice in how they shop with us," Walmart Senior Vice President and General Manager of Walmart+ Membership Deepak Maini said in a LinkedIn post following the announcement. "It's a simple idea: bring the convenience of Walmart+ to more of what members can access when they shop in our stores, and give members a little more value in their everyday lives," he continued. Walmart+ existing benefits. The summer's new perks join a host of existing Walmart+ benefits, including: free store delivery, free pharmacy delivery, at-home returns, fuel savings, oil change savings, access to free online veterinary care, travel rewards, fast food restaurant discounts, access to ad-supported streaming services, and many others. These existing benefits have a wide appeal, providing value to shoppers who frequently order via Walmart's website or through the app, or who already spend money on any of the other covered services and subscriptions. You May Also Like How to decide if a Walmart+ membership is worth it. However, deciding whether the new perks are worth it isn't super straightforward. If you have already determined that the existing Walmart+ benefits make a membership worth the cost, then these added perks are just icing on the cake. But if you've been on the fence, a quick assessment of cost vs. savings can help you make a final decision. Do the new benefits offset the cost? Subscribers have two ways to pay for their Walmart+ memberships: monthly at $12.95 plus tax or annually at $98 plus tax (providing 37% in savings). Individual 4x6 photo prints at Walmart start at $0.18, meaning you'd have to print 545 pictures each year to break even on the cost of a yearly membership. However, with free prints capped at 300 per year, the benefit maxes out at $54 in annual savings - leaving members to make up the remaining $44 through other Walmart+ perks. Similarly, customer fees for money services range between $1 and $8. With only one transaction fee covered per quarter with the subscription, this benefit alone will also never fully offset the $98 cost of an annual Walmart+ subscription. In-store perks aren't the only consideration. The math isn't everything, though. A Walmart+ membership can be worthwhile even if you don't fully recoup the $98 solely through these two in-store benefits. How much value you get from a subscription will ultimately depend on how you shop. If you already use Walmart+ for free delivery, shipping, or other benefits, the new in-store perks are simply adding to the value you're already getting. Bottom line. At the end of the day, these new benefits are most valuable to Walmart+ members who already use the retailer for photo printing or money services. For everyone else, they're unlikely to be a deciding factor, but they do give Walmart+ members more ways to get value from their annual fee, whether they're shopping online or walking into a store. If you're already a frequent Walmart shopper and make regular use of these services, the additions could certainly help push a borderline membership into "worth it" territory. But if you rarely shop in stores or use Walmart's Money Centers or photo services, these perks alone probably shouldn't change your calculation. 2026 Award Winner Best Overall Cash Back Credit Card * Low spend threshold for its welcome offer * Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible) * Apply Now Intro Offer $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months Annual Fee Why Synear like it Subscribe Today Learn how to make an extra $200. Get vetted side hustles and proven ways to earn extra cash sent to your inbox.