In another sign of corporate America’s shift away from decentralization, Walmart—the nation’s largest private employer—is cutting hundreds of jobs and shutting down an office in North Carolina while demanding workers relocate to its main hubs in California and Arkansas. The move, revealed in an internal memo obtained by FOX Business, is part of Walmart’s ongoing strategy to consolidate power at its headquarters while leaving behind workers in smaller offices across the country.
Walmart Chief People Officer Donna Morris announced the decision in a memo to employees, stating that the company was eliminating certain positions and requiring office-based workers in Hoboken, New Jersey, and other smaller locations to uproot their lives and move to Bentonville, Arkansas, or Sunnyvale, California.
“We are making these changes to put key capabilities together, encouraging speed and shared understanding,” Morris wrote, corporate-speak for streamlining operations at the expense of employees who now face a difficult choice—relocate or lose their jobs.
This latest round of layoffs and forced relocations is just the newest phase of Walmart’s aggressive restructuring plan, which began in May 2024. At that time, employees in Dallas, Atlanta, and even Toronto were told to move to Bentonville, Hoboken, or California if they wanted to keep their jobs. Remote workers were also ordered back to the office. Walmart, like many other corporate giants, appears determined to erase the flexibility that workers became accustomed to during the pandemic in favor of a more centralized, top-down structure.
In February 2022, Walmart first mandated that employees return to the office, claiming that in-person work leads to better collaboration and faster decision-making. However, this shift back to office work comes as many employees across the country continue to value flexibility, raising concerns about whether the retail giant is truly prioritizing its workforce or merely looking to consolidate power.
As it forces employees to move, Walmart has been pouring money into its newly constructed 350-acre corporate campus in Bentonville, Arkansas, which opened last month. The sprawling headquarters features 12 office buildings, along with parking structures and additional amenities, making it clear that the company is investing heavily in bringing workers under one roof—even if that means pushing out those who can’t or won’t relocate.
Walmart is also expanding offices in Sunnyvale, Bellevue, and Hoboken while maintaining its fashion hub in New York City. Yet despite these investments, many employees remain uncertain about their future.
Morris attempted to soften the blow by promising relocation assistance or severance packages for affected workers, but that does little to reassure those who now must uproot their families or find new employment altogether.
Walmart’s decision to slash jobs and force relocations is a stark reminder of the growing divide in corporate America. While executives tout the benefits of centralizing power in major hubs, everyday employees are left scrambling to adjust.
This trend raises serious questions: Will other major companies follow Walmart’s lead? How will middle-class workers be affected as businesses move toward greater consolidation?
One thing is clear—Walmart’s latest move proves that, in today’s corporate climate, loyalty and hard work are no guarantee of job security.
