PORTLAND, Ore. — Fred Meyer will be giving all hourly front-line workers a $2 bonus above their standard base rate of pay, the company announced Tuesday night.
The bump in pay, which Fred Meyer is calling a “hero bonus,” will be for all front-line grocery, supply, manufacturing, pharmacy and call center associates. The bonus will be applied to hours worked from March 29 through April 18.
“Our associates have displayed the true actions of a hero, working tirelessly on the front lines to ensure everyone has access to affordable, fresh food and essentials during this national emergency,” said Dennis Gibson, president of Fred Meyer.
While many people are working from home, or out of work altogether, during the coronavirus pandemic, grocery workers are still having to come to stores, facing potential exposure to COVID-19 from hundreds, if not thousands, of people a day.
In addition to the bonus, Fred Meyer said it is taking the following actions to help limit employees’ exposure to COVID-19.
- Enhancing our daily sanitation practices, including cleaning commonly used areas more often like cashier stations, self-checkouts, credit card terminals, food service counters and shelves.
- Installing plexiglass partitions at check lanes, and pharmacy and Starbucks registers across the enterprise.
- Adding floor decals to promote physical distancing at check lanes and other counters.
- Adjusting store operating hours to allow more time for associates to rest, clean and replenish inventory.
- Continuing to expand pickup and delivery services and contactless payment solutions like Kroger Pay.
Fred Meyer is also still hiring for many positions.