How Can I Quit My Job at Walmart in 2024?

Hey there! If you‘re thinking about moving on from your job at Walmart, I‘m here to make the process as smooth as possible for you. I‘ve put together this complete guide on the best practices for professionally resigning from Walmart in 2024.

Whether you‘ve got a new opportunity lined up or need to leave for personal reasons, separating from any job can be challenging. But I‘ll give you all the details you need on giving proper notice, final payouts, the rehire process, and more so you can transition out while maintaining positive relationships.

Let‘s start with the basics…

Who Should I Tell That I‘m Quitting My Job at Walmart?

The first step is having a conversation with your direct supervisor or store manager. Request a brief in-person meeting and let them know you‘ll be resigning from your position at Walmart. It can feel awkward, but being open early gives your boss time to prepare.

Provide them with a formal resignation letter (we’ll cover what this includes shortly) stating your final work date. Even if you can’t give a full two weeks‘ notice, give as much as you can.

You‘ll also want to notify the People Lead at your location – this person handles all the HR and personnel issues for the store. Reach out to let them know you‘re leaving so they can document it and turn off your login access and such.

Talking to your manager and HR early and directly gives them the professional courtesy they deserve.

How Much Notice Does Walmart Require When You Quit?

Walmart doesn‘t outright require any formal notice period when you resign. You can technically quit without any advance warning due to at-will employment laws.

However, providing at least two weeks notice is strongly recommended and is the standard professional practice.

Here are some of the biggest benefits for you and Walmart of giving two weeks notice:

Gives your manager time to find and train your replacement
Allows you to transition duties and projects to other team members
Minimizes disruption to store operations and customer service
Maintains positive relationships with managers and coworkers
Provides time for you to use up remaining PTO
Keeps you eligible for rehire if you ever want to return to Walmart

According to a ResumeLab study, almost 75% of workers give at least two weeks notice when quitting a job. For manager roles, the number jumps to 85% providing 2-4 weeks notice.

So while not required, following the standard two week notice procedure ensures a smooth departure. Let‘s look at exactly how to provide proper notice next.

What‘s the Best Way for Me to Give Notice at Walmart?

Once you‘ve decided on your last day, the ideal approach is to notify your direct supervisor and the HR department both verbally and in writing.

Here are the steps I recommend:

Talk to your boss first. Request a brief chat in person and share your decision to resign. Provide them with a formal resignation letter you‘ve written up.
Follow up with a written resignation letter. Address it directly to your supervisor and deliver it to them. Include your final work date.
Notify the People Lead. Set up a meeting in person or call them to share the news so they can process your departure.
Send a follow up email to your boss recapping your last day and offering to help transition duties over the next couple of weeks. Provide your contact info in case they need to reach you.
Tie up loose ends. Provide thorough handover notes and documentation to help the next person. Return any Walmart property like keys, ID badges, uniforms, etc.

Giving notice both verbally and in writing like this covers all your bases and provides documentation on when/how notice was given.

Throughout the process, be extra polite and professional. This is your chance to leave a positive final impression at Walmart.

Can I Resign from Walmart Over the Phone?

Quitting any job over the phone isn‘t ideal. But I know there are times when you can‘t meet up in person – like if you moved or transferred to another store far away.

In cases where an in-person meeting just isn‘t feasible, then calling your manager and HR department to resign is the next best approach.

Here are some tips to smoothly quit over the phone:

Call during slower hours at the store, like late morning or mid-afternoon, so your boss has time to talk.
Speak directly to your supervisor first if they are available. Share your resignation and offer to send a formal letter as well.
Leave a voicemail if you can‘t connect directly. Clearly state your name, position, last day, and that you‘ve resigned.
Follow up with a written resignation letter sent by email or mail to confirm your notice officially in writing.
Notify HR explaining you resigned so they can finalize your separation details.

I always recommend an in-person meeting if possible. But phoning allows you to directly communicate the news live versus an indirect written letter alone. Just be sure to send the formal notice as well.

What Happens to My Unused PTO When I Leave Walmart?

Another thing you’ll want to wrap up is your remaining paid time off (PTO). Here is how Walmart handles unused PTO when an employee resigns:

Less than 1 year worked – No payout of accrued PTO, except where required by state law. Remaining PTO is forfeited.
1-4 years worked – Unused PTO up to 48 hours is paid out on final check. Leftover PTO is forfeited.
5+ years worked – Unused PTO up to 80 hours paid out. Remaining PTO is forfeited.
Salaried – Unused PTO up to 160 hours paid out. Leftover hours are forfeited.

This payout of unused time will show up in your final paycheck after your last day. Make sure the People Lead has your current mailing address so the check gets to you promptly.

You continue earning PTO as usual during the notice period. Any balance accrued but not used at the end is paid out based on the above policies.

I recommend checking your up-to-date PTO balance, so you know what payout to expect. Use up extra time off before giving notice if you can.

Can I Just Quit Walmart Without Giving Notice?

Legally, you can absolutely quit a job without formal notice due to at-will employment laws. But while you can just walk out, I don‘t recommend it.

Quitting Walmart without notice can:

Leave your team seriously short-staffed
Make it hard for management to cover shifts
Result in lost income from forfeited PTO
Limit your rehire eligibility in the future
Hurt you if you need references for another job

Unless there are extreme circumstances, always try to provide notice as a courtesy.

If an emergency means you must quit immediately, clearly explain the situation to your supervisor and apologize for the lack of notice. Following up in writing is still important for documentation.

Leaving properly with notice is always the best path to maintain positive relationships and your professional reputation.

If I Quit, Will Walmart Ever Rehire Me In the Future?

Walmart does allow employees to be rehired even if they previously quit. But there are a few important factors that determine your rehire eligibility:

6 month waiting period – Walmart policy requires at least 6 months before a former employee can be rehired after resigning. This waiting period is strictly enforced.
Rehire status – Employees who resign with proper notice are marked as rehirable in Walmart‘s system. This makes you eligible to be rehired after the 6 month period.
Quitting without notice – Surprisingly, even employees who quit without notice can still be rehired. But your specific circumstances would need to be reviewed by management first.
Past performance – Your prior work history, attendance, disciplines, reason for leaving, and relationship with management are all assessed before being rehired. A solid record helps.
Open positions – Rehire depends on availability of open roles matching your skills and experience. Positions may be limited.

So while rehire is never guaranteed, resigning respectfully with proper notice and leaving on good terms is your best bet for remaining eligible to come back down the road.

How Can I Get a Copy of My W-2 After Leaving Walmart?

Even after resigning from Walmart, you‘ll still need your W-2 tax statement to file your taxes for the year.

By law, Walmart must mail your W-2 for the prior year by January 31st annually. But here are a few tips to ensure you get this important tax document:

Confirm your current address is on file in the system before your last day.
Call the personnel office in mid-January if you still have not received it.
Stop by your old store and ask customer service for a copy if needed.
Log into the Workday payroll portal using your previous credentials to access it online.
Contact the Walmart payroll department as a last resort and request a duplicate W-2 be mailed to you.

Having your W-2 from all employers is crucial for filing your tax return and getting any refund quickly. Follow up in January if it doesn‘t arrive soon after resigning from Walmart.

How Do I Get My Final Pay Stub After I Leave?

After you finish up your last scheduled shift, your final pay stub will be mailed out to you. This details your hours worked, taxes withheld, deductions, and any final payouts of PTO.

Here are a few tips to ensure you get this important last pay information:

Double check that the personnel or payroll department has your current address prior to giving notice.
Call or visit HR/payroll if you have not received the final pay stub within 2 weeks of your last day.
Log into the Workday portal and print your last pay statement for your records.
Request a duplicate final pay stub from payroll if needed.

Having your final stub allows you to review all the details and ensure your final payment, PTO payout, taxes, etc. are all accurate. Follow up with HR if it doesn‘t arrive within a couple weeks of your last shift.

Well, There You Have It…

Whew, I know that was a lot of information! But I wanted to make sure you have all the details you need to smoothly transition out of Walmart.

Quitting a job is never fun, even when it‘s the right choice. By giving proper notice, handling PTO payouts properly, asking about rehire eligibility, getting your tax documents in order, and tying up other loose ends, you can resign from Walmart professionally and maintain positive relationships.

I hope this guide gives you a clear game plan for moving forward. Let me know if any other questions come up! Wishing you nothing but the best.