Hazard pay? Stores staying open amid coronavirus outbreak increase pay for employees
Workers at several national retail chains open amid the coronavirus pandemic are receiving pay raises.
Across the United States, many small businesses and some national chains have closed in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 or in response to officials ordering closures and urging people to stay home.
But some major retailers are staying open as they provide essentials to the public.
Several of those are hiring thousands of new workers to keep up with increased demand and the changing economy, McClatchy News previously reported.
On top of that, these major chains are giving raises or bonuses to employees working during the pandemic.
CVS
CVS is the latest to join the national retail chains giving raises or bonuses to employees coming into work during the coronavirus pandemic.
The pharmacy announced Monday that it will be giving bonuses ranging from $150 to $500 to pharmacists and other health care professionals, store managers and associates and other hourly workers.
Additionally, part-time workers now have 24 hours of paid sick leave during the pandemic. Full-time workers already had paid sick leave.
Target
Target announced Friday it’s putting more than $300 million toward pay increases, paid leave and bonuses.
Full-time and part-time hourly workers at Target stores will get a $2-per-hour pay increase until at least May 2, Target said in a release.
Some workers, including those who are pregnant, 65 and older or who have underlying medical conditions that put them at a higher risk, now have up to 30 days of paid leave if they choose not to work.
Walmart
Last week Walmart announced it will give $300 bonuses to all full-time hourly associates and $150 bonuses to all part-time hourly associates.
The bonuses will be given on April 1 to workers who were employed as of March 1, Walmart says.
Store, club and supply chain associates will get their next quarterly bonuses a month early.
Amazon
Amazon said on March 16 that it will be increasing employee pay by $2 per hour worked through April.
Workers who are infected with COVID-19 or who need to quarantine will get up to two weeks of paid time off on top of the unlimited unpaid time off hourly workers have through March.
Employees required to come into work still have access to their regular paid and unpaid time off, Amazon says.
Kroger
Kroger and the chains it owns will be giving bonuses to hourly workers.
This includes Harris Teeter stores, Dillons, Food 4 Less and other regional groceries across the U.S.
All full-time associates will get a one-time $300 bonus and all part-time associates will get a one-time $150 bonuses, the company announced Saturday.
It also extended paid time off to workers self-isolating and to those with symptoms.
Previously, workers infected with COVID-19 or in quarantine were eligible for up to two weeks of paid time off, according to Kroger.
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Hazard pay? Stores staying open amid coronavirus outbreak increase pay for employees."
