The retail giant is building a new headquarters in its hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. It will span more than 300 acres and have amenities, including fitness centers, hiking trails, and a child-care facility.
During the company’s annual shareholder meeting, which was held virtually, Walmart executives fielded a question about whether the pandemic — and the rise of work-from-home — will change its plans.
Dan Bartlett, the company’s executive vice president of corporate affairs, said it already planned on flexible office design. He said it’s factoring in evolving work habits during the architectural phase of the project. But CEO Doug McMillon added that offices will remain important, even though employees are productive at home.
“As this crisis has gone on, we’ve noticed things that we’re missing,” he said. For example, he said it’s been hard to onboard new employees, introduce them to people, and integrate them into the company culture.