More than 850,000 Walmart employees across the U.S. received a bonus earlier this month based on the performance of their stores.

Locally, 7,475 company employees in Los Angeles County and more than 46,000 Walmart workers throughout California shared in the $157 million bonus pot. The average Walmart employee in L.A. County received a $200 bonus check

Walmart associates can earn quarterly bonuses based on the performance of their stores. Workers in the retailer’s 42 Los Angeles County stores will share $1.6 million in bonus money, part of the more than $9 million in bonuses paid in California.

That came on the heels of Walmart U.S. recording its strongest comparable sales performance of the year in the fourth quarter, with growth of 1.8 percent. For the full fiscal year, Walmart’s U.S. employees shared more than $700 million in bonuses.

Diane Reyes, who manages the 131,000-square-foot Walmart store in Compton, said the bonuses and incentives the company offers have boosted employee morale.

“It makes them feel a part of the business,” she said. “They are almost policing each other. They look at things like accidents and safety and they might say to a fellow associate, ‘You didn’t say hi to that customer.’ They know these things have everything to do with getting bonuses.”

Walmart invested billions of dollars in training, education and higher wages over the past two years. During 2016, the company launched new training programs for entry-level associates, frontline supervisors, department managers and assistant managers, creating clearer career paths and preparing them to succeed in a new, technology-enabled age of retail.

Walmart’s bonus program is noteworthy in light of the move by other retailers to close stores in the face on increasing online competition.

J.C. Penney announced last month that it will be closing 130 to 140 underperforming stores. Macy’s plans to close 68 locations this year, Kohl’s will be shuttering 18 locations, Kmart is closing 108 stores and Sears plans to close 150.