BIDDEFORD — Walmart, which has stores in Biddeford and Sanford, is making some significant changes that will benefit its employees.

Late last month the world’s largest retail chain announced increases in its minimum wage slated for this spring with another wage jump scheduled for next year.

According to a recent press release, Walmart will raise its starting salary to $9 an hour ”“ and raising any associate’s salary under that level up to $9 an hour ”“ by April of this year. The company will then bump that figure up to $10 by next February.

Walmart spokesman Bill Wertz said Wednesday that there’s more to the initiative than just raising the company’s minimum wage.

“The impact is broad,” he said. “It has a lot more to do with than just the minimum-wage increase. In addition to the starting wage going up both this year and next year, the pay bands are also increasing.”

A pay band is “the compensation range the company pays for each position,” according to the press release. So, for example, if an associate is already earning the maximum amount in a particular pay band, he or she will still get a raise, said Wertz.

Outside of changes to pay, Walmart also plans to better associates’ opportunity to “grow a career at Walmart” by launching training and development programs this year and next, according to the press release. Additionally, the company plans to grant associates “more control over and ownership of their schedules, including more predictability for associates who want it and flexibility for those who need it.”

Jim Derossett, a front-end supervisor at Walmart, said Thursday that he agrees the initiative will prompt people to view a position at Walmart as a career-building opportunity as opposed to just a fleeting job. Derossett, who lives in Old Orchard Beach, has been working at the Biddeford store for eight years, where he started as a cashier and “worked (his) way up,” he said.

“I think that this is probably the best thing in the last eight years, since I’ve worked for Walmart, that they’ve done,” he said. “We’re showing our community that we are looking to find people … who are looking for a place to grow versus, you know, ”˜I won’t be here next week because something better’s going to come along.’”

Derossett added that the initiative shows Walmart values its employees.

“The easiest way to show somebody (you value them) is to show it in their paycheck,” he said.

Store manager Michael Lilley echoed Derossett’s sentiments Thursday.

“It gets us better-quality associate,” he said of the initiative.

Lilley added that Walmart has spearheaded industry change in the past ”“ it was one of the first companies to “go green,” he said ”“ and this initiative is just another example of that.

Lilley’s words may already be ringing true. Last week TJX Companies, which owns T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGoods, announced it would also issue raises ”“ once this summer and again next year. There’s a T.J. Maxx at Biddeford Crossing, while Sanford is home to a Marshall’s.

According to a press release, all TJX associates will earn at least $9 an hour beginning in June, and “sometime during 2016,” all associates who have been employed with TJX for at least six months will earn at least $10 an hour.

Maine’s minimum wage is $7.50 an hour ”“ 25 cents higher than the federal minimum wage ”“ so, in other words, by 2016, Walmart and TJX employees throughout the state will be earning at least 33 percent more than what’s legally allowed.

Lilley said the announcement has already sparked an observable mood change in Biddeford.

“The morale in the store has jumped significantly just in the last week,” he said.

— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].