by Cynthia Murray, Otherwords
I’ll be turning 67 soon. I’d love to be able to retire on my birthday. I’d celebrate by spending the afternoon at the mall with my daughter and then start planning little trips to visit relatives.
But even after 22 years of working for Walmart, our nation’s largest employer, I can’t afford to retire any time soon.
Walmart does offer a 401(k) with matching funds. But with a high-deductible health plan and at my wage of just $16.83 an hour, I haven’t been able to save much at all for what should be my “golden years.”

Lots of my fellow Walmart associates are in the same boat. I know this from talking to my co-workers — and because companies have to report how many employees have zero balances in their 401(k) plans. At Walmart, 46 percent have not one dime in their accounts.
The situation for my top boss, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, could not be more different. Would you believe he has more than $169 million in his company retirement account?
Recent Posts
Democratic Governance Depends On Stable, Affordable Housing
December 16, 2025
Take Action Now A population that cannot afford to stay in one place cannot build civic associations, and a society without civic associations cannot…
The Lobby Is Milking The Bondi Beach Attack To Silence Critics Of Israel’s Genocide
December 16, 2025
Take Action Now It is years of dedicated work by the Israel lobby that has ensured the mass murder of Palestinians is viewed by governments, the…
White House Refuses To Rule Out Summary Executions Of People On Its Secret Domestic Terrorist List
December 15, 2025
Take Action Now The Trump administration ignored questions about whether it would order the killings of those on its NSPM-7 list — even while…
Koch Network Fuels Republican Push To Kill ACA Subsidies
December 15, 2025
Take Action Now As millions face higher premiums, Koch‑funded groups are pressuring Republicans to oppose Obamacare subsidy extensions.By Donald…




