Getting fired from Walmart doesn't permanently ban you from working for the company again, but your path back depends entirely on why you left. If you're wondering can you get rehired at Walmart after termination, the short answer is yes. However, the timeline and your chances vary based on whether you were let go for attendance, performance, or gross misconduct.
Understanding how Walmart tracks former employees, how long you'll have to wait, and what hiring managers look for will give you a clearer picture of your options before you submit a new application.
Understanding Walmart's Rehire Policy After Termination
Walmart doesn't have a single, rigid lifetime ban for every terminated worker, but the automated hiring system does enforce specific rules. When you leave the company, your Walmart Corporate employment record—tied to your unique WIN (Walmart Identification Number)—tags the reason for your separation.
If you quit on good terms with proper notice, you can usually apply for open positions immediately. If you were terminated, the system typically places a hold on your profile. Store managers have final discretion over hiring decisions, but company guidelines and automated system blocks dictate when your application can even be processed.
The Six-Month Attendance Rule
The most common hurdle former associates face is the six-month waiting period. This rule primarily applies to workers terminated for accumulating too many attendance points under Walmart's strict corporate guidelines.
When you get fired for attendance, those occurrence points don't automatically vanish the day you leave. They remain active in the system for a rolling six-month period. Because you'd technically still be over the allowable point limit if rehired immediately, the system blocks new applications for six months until those points naturally expire.
Can Store Managers Override the Wait?
Technically, yes. A store manager has the authority to bypass certain waiting periods or review a flagged profile if they desperately need staff or value your past performance.
- Attendance Terminations: While a manager can theoretically override an attendance block, they rarely do so because it brings active points back onto the active roster. Most managers will tell you to wait out the six months until your record clears.
- Performance Terminations: If you were let go for low productivity or failing to meet job standards, a manager from a different department or a completely separate store might be willing to take a chance on you if you interview well and show improvement.
Reasons You Might Be Permanently Banned From Rehire
While many terminations allow for a second chance, certain separation types land you on a strict "non-rehireable" list. If you fall into these categories, automated filters will block your application indefinitely:
- Gross Misconduct: Theft, physical altercations, harassment, policy violations involving safety, or intentional damage to company property result in a permanent ban.
- Job Abandonment: Walking off the job without notice or failing to show up for multiple consecutive shifts without calling in is classified as job abandonment. Most store managers view this as a severe breach of trust and refuse to rehire.
- Safety Violations: Breaching heavy machinery protocols, forklift safety rules, or food safety guidelines can trigger an unappealable corporate block.
How to Check Your Rehire Eligibility Status
You don't have to guess whether you're eligible to return. The application portal does the heavy lifting for you.
- Head to the official Walmart Careers portal.
- Log in using your existing candidate profile or create a new one if necessary.
- Submit an application for an open position at a local store or distribution center.
- Observe the system prompt. If you are within a mandatory waiting period or flagged as non-rehireable, the system will either block the application entirely or display a specific date when you are legally allowed to reapply.
If the system lets your application go through and prompts you to take the online assessment, your record is clear enough for a human manager to review.
Steps to Maximize Your Chances of Getting Rehired
If you've cleared the waiting period and your application went through, you still have to convince a hiring manager to take a chance on a former employee. Follow these steps to rebuild your professional standing:
Reach Out to the People Lead
Walmart's Human Resources representatives—known as People Leads—handle initial application screening at the store level. Instead of waiting passively, call the store or stop by to speak directly with the People Lead. Politely let them know you've reapplied, explain that you valued your time working for the company, and briefly mention what has changed since your departure.
Talk to the Store Manager
If you left on good terms or parted ways due to fixable issues like scheduling conflicts, a direct conversation with the Store Manager goes a long way. Store Managers have ultimate hiring power. If they remember you as a hard worker who showed up on time outside of your attendance slip-ups, they may pull your application from the digital queue.
Target a Different Location
If your old store manager marked you as ineligible or hesitant to bring you back, try applying to a different Walmart Supercenter, Neighborhood Market, or distribution center in your area. Each store operates independently when filling hourly roles, and a fresh management team won't have any preconceived bias against you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get rehired if I quit without giving a two-week notice?
Quitting without notice doesn't automatically trigger a corporate ban, but it often lands you on a local store's internal "do not rehire" list. While the corporate system might let you apply elsewhere, the manager at your previous location can advise other stores against hiring you.
Do my old attendance points stay on my record forever?
No. Attendance points operate on a rolling 184-day (roughly six-month) expiration window. Once all active points from your previous tenure age out and drop to zero, your attendance record resets entirely.
Will my pay rate reset if I get rehired?
Yes. When you are rehired at Walmart, you are treated as a new hire for compensation purposes. You will start back at the base pay rate for that specific position and location, regardless of how much you were making when you left.
Does Walmart require a new background check for rehired employees?
Yes. Even if you worked there recently, corporate policy mandates a fresh background check and drug screening (if applicable to the role) for all returning associates before your first official day back on the clock.
