Walmart Closes Matteson Fulfillment Center, 111 Illinois Workers Impacted

Walmart's ecommerce fulfillment facility at 21430 S. Cicero Ave. in Matteson, Illinois is closing permanently on May 29, 2026, with 111 associates facing displacement under a WARN Act filing submitted to Illinois state officials last week.

The ORD site closure is company-directed and permanent, which matters legally: it triggers the full WARN Act framework, including a mandatory 60-day notice period and access to state rapid-response job placement services. For the 111 affected workers, the filing outlines three paths forward. They can transfer to another Walmart or Sam's Club location, accept severance and separate from the company, or pursue outside employment while remaining on payroll through a 90-day paid transition period.

The transfer option carries the most immediate financial weight. Associates who relocate more than 50 miles from Matteson may qualify for a one-time payment of $7,500, which aligns with the transfer incentive Walmart has offered in other recent WARN filings, plus additional relocation benefits. Open positions in the company's NextGen fulfillment network and in stores are being posted through Me@Walmart, and associates should watch those listings now. Some Matteson workers have already been reassigned ahead of the official May 29 date, so the internal job market is already moving.

The Associate Support Center is the first call for anyone working through transfer eligibility, internal applications, reclassification paperwork, and benefits questions. Health coverage continues through the full 90-day paid transition period. Lyra mental health support and other services listed in the WARN packet remain available during that window. Managers at the site are expected to walk associates through the application process and to explain what role reclassification means for pay and scheduling at receiving facilities.

The Illinois state rapid-response program runs in parallel to Walmart's internal support. Workers covered under the WARN filing can access job search assistance and retraining funding through state channels, which matters most for associates who decide relocation is not an option.

Walmart described the Matteson closure in its filing as part of a broader consolidation into automated NextGen fulfillment centers, including a larger hub in Joliet. Those facilities operate with robotic shuttles, automated conveyors, and centralized throughput rather than the manual picking and packing that defined the ORD site. For workers considering a transfer, the practical reality is that new facility roles may look and feel different from the work they have done in Matteson.

Before signing any transfer agreement, get commitments about pay parity and role classification in writing. The 51 days between now and May 29 will move faster than they sound.