in return for employees'loyalty and dedication, Walton began offering profit sharing in 1971
every associate that had been with us for at least one year
and who worked at least 1000 hours a year
was eligible for it
he explained
using a formula based on profit growth
we contribute a percentage of every eligible associate's wages to his or her plan
which the associate can take when they leave the company
either in cash or in WM stock
in 2001 WM annual company contribution totaled 486 millon