Outsourcing Hits Walmart, Retailer to Layoff Nearly 600 Headquarters Staff

Walmart is laying off nearly 600 workers at its corporate headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.

The retailer plans to begin outsourcing finance and accounting work to New York-based financial services firm Genpact. The layoffs will begin in September and continue into early 2020, Walmart said in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice filed with the state, reported The Charlotte Observer.

"This was a difficult decision that affects friends and associates we care about deeply,” a Walmart spokesperson told Retail Dive. “We appreciate their important contributions, and we're committed to handling every transition over the next seven months smoothly and respectfully. As our company continues evolving, we've said we must strike the right balance between managing the needs of our business, our associates and our customers."

Workers who chooses to stay until the September are eligible for a retention bonus. In addition, Walmart will be providing employment services to laid off workers and offering them positions at store locations to ease their transition.