Hennessy’s Index: November 2013

Wal-Mart or Costco?

Hennessy's Index

Hennessys Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index

  • $19.3 million

Compensation Wal-Mart’s CEO received in 2012. [Source]

  • $10.11

Average hourly Wal-Mart pay for a full-time worker in the U.S. [Source]

  • $4.9 million

Compensation Costco’s CEO received in 2012. [Source]

  • $17

Average hourly Costco wage in the U.S. In Canada, Costco’s average hourly wage is $21. [Sources 1, 2]

  • 82

Percentage of Costco employees who have health insurance coverage. Costco workers pay eight per cent of their health premiums. [Source]

  • <50

Fewer than 50 per cent of Wal-Mart Sam’s Club workers have health care insurance coverage and Wal-Mart workers pay 33 per cent of their health premiums. [Source]

  • 91

Percentage of Costco employees in the U.S. who are covered by retirement plans. The company contributes $1,330 on average for every employee each year. [Source]

  • 64

Percentage of Wal-Mart Sam’s Club employees in the U.S. who have retirement plans. The company contributes $747 on average for every employee each year. [Source]

  • 17

Percentage of staff turnover at Costco in the U.S., which is very low. Costco’s staff turnover rate is only six per cent for employees who have been there for more than a year. [Source]

  • 44

Percentage of staff turnover at Wal-Mart in the U.S. each year. [Source]

  • $244 million

The price tag Costco pays to replace workers due to staff turnover in the U.S. [Source]

  • $612 million

The price tag Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club pays to replace workers due to staff turnover in the U.S. [Source]

  • $37 billion

Total U.S. sales for Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club in 2012. [Source]

  • $43 billion

Total U.S. sales for Costco in 2012 – achieved with 38 per cent fewer employees. [Source]

Author(s): 
November 1, 2013
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