As a thank-you to employees who have been working amid the coronavirus pandemic, Target announced it will be giving $200 bonuses to its hourly team members. The round of bonuses, which will be distributed in early November, comes ahead of the busy holiday season and is the fourth round of bonuses that the mega-retailer has awarded to its employees since the start of COVID-19.
Target will be spending $70 million on this round of bonuses, with the one-time bonuses of $200 each paid out to more than 350,000 frontline workers who work in stores and distribution centers. Even seasonal employees are eligible for the bonuses.
Target tweeted about the pre-holidays bonuses on Oct. 19.
As we head into the holidays, Target is thanking more than 350,000 frontline team members for their service with a $200 bonus—the fourth special bonus we’ve awarded teams or leaders at our stores and DCs since the pandemic began. Learn more here: https://t.co/Ygt7fpm7V0 pic.twitter.com/kn6fXUXQ8D
— Target News (@TargetNews) October 19, 2020
Several other retailers have been awarding bonuses, increasing pay and extending additional benefits for frontline employees who are risking exposure to COVID-19 by working during the pandemic. Walmart has awarded $1.1 billion in bonuses to its employees, with the latest round of bonuses paid out in August and amounting to $300 for full-time, hourly associates and $150 for part-time and temporary associates.
The Home Depot has been giving consistent bonuses to its employees: Full-time hourly associates get $100 weekly bonuses and part-time employees get $50 weekly bonuses. The Home Depot has also been extending more paid time off to its employees, adding 80 hours of paid time off for full-time employees and 40 hours of paid time off for part-time workers.
Associates 65 or older receive an additional 240 hours of paid time off if they’re full-time hourly employees and 120 hours of paid time off if they’re part-time hourly associates, according to The Home Depot’s COVID-19 policies.
Target has been giving bonuses to its hourly and salaried employees during the pandemic. In April, Target awarded bonuses ranging from $250 to $1,000 to 20,000 store team leads. In July, the company awarded $200 bonuses to hourly employees and also gave performance bonuses to store directors and executive team leaders and salaried employees in distribution centers.
In July, Target also raised the minimum wage to $15 for all U.S. employees
“In a year like no other, I’m proud of what this team has accomplished and grateful for the care and connection they’ve provided our guests and communities,” Melissa Kremer, Target’s chief HR officer, said in a press statement. “Target’s success this year is a direct result of our team members turning our purpose into action and meeting our guests’ changing needs day after day.”
Do you think companies are doing enough for their employees who continue to work during the coronavirus pandemic?
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Brittany has contributed to publications including Men's Journal, Forbes, Women's Health, American Way, TripSavvy, Eat This, Not That!, Apartment Therapy, Denver Life Magazine, 5280, Livability, The Denver Post, Simplemost, USA Today Travel Tips, Make it Better, AAA publications, Reader's Digest, Discover Life and more. More.
