We are working with every employer we represent to provide enhanced policies for our members working during this crisis, including sick leave, hazard pay, protective equipment, and more.
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Here is where we stand at each of the four major grocery chains we represent with hazard pay and other enhanced benefits above and beyond your union contract. We will keep this list up-to-date as we have further developments:
Giant Food:
Giant will provide a 10% temporary pay increase, including overtime and Sunday pay. The increase is effective March 22 through May 2 through May 30, 2020. They’ve also agreed to allow members to wear gloves and masks at work if they choose and will provide 14 days’ paid sick leave if you test positive for COVID-19. Giant is also installing plexiglass barriers at all checkout stands to protect cashiers.
UPDATE 4/3/2020: Giant will no longer require employees to bag groceries in reusable bags brought by customers. Customers will be asked to bag their own groceries to lessen the risk of transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. Giant is also providing face shields to employees (although they offer no protection from infectious diseases).
UPDATE 4/6/2020: Giant will limit the number of customers in stores at a given time to 20% of the store’s capacity (as defined by the building code) as of Thursday, April 9th. The company is also creating one-way aisles and installing directional signage to promote physical distancing between customers. Giant is also now encouraging employees to wear masks along with the protective face shields that have been provided by the company, following new guidance from the CDC. Lastly, all stores will be closed by 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 12 for the Easter holiday to give associates a much-needed break.
UPDATE 4/20/2020: Giant will extend its 10% temporary pay increase through May 30, 2020. All associates hired prior to May 3, 2020 will be eligible.
UPDATE 5/30/2020: Giant will no longer provide a 10% temporary pay increase to associates. The company will be providing a one-time appreciation bonus in the amount of $200 for part-time associates and $400 for full-time associates. The bonus will be paid on July 1.
UPDATE 9/22/2020: Today, Giant announced a new round of one-time “appreciation” bonuses in the amount of $300 for full-timers and $150 for part-timers. The bonuses will appear in the first November paychecks of all hourly associates hired by September 22, 2020 and actively employed through the first week of November.
UPDATE 1/4/2021: Giant will provide a one-time “Appreciation Bonus” to all full-time hourly associates in the amount of $300 and part-time hourly associates $150. Current hourly associates hired prior to December 31 2020, and actively employed on March 5, 2021 will be eligible for this bonus. This bonus will be paid to you in the first March paycheck in 2021.
Kroger:
Kroger will pay all associates working for the company since or before March 1 a one-time bonus of $300 for full-timers and $150 for part-timers, paid on April 3. Kroger will also provide 14 days’ paid sick leave if you are ordered quarantined by a doctor or health authority. Kroger has agreed to allow members working in stores to wear gloves and masks and the company is working on purchasing them to provide to employees as soon as they become available. Kroger is also installing plexiglass barriers at all checkout stands to protect cashiers.
UPDATE 3/26/2020: Kroger will no longer require employees to bag groceries in reusable bags brought by customers. Customers will be asked to bag their own groceries to lessen the risk of transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UPDATE 3/31/2020: Kroger will provide a $2.00/hour increase for to all associates for all hours worked, effective March 29 through April 18.
UPDATE 4/6/2020: Starting Tuesday, April 7th, Kroger is limiting the number of customers in a store at a given time to 50% of the store’s capacity (as defined by the building code). The company is rolling out a program to check temperatures of every employee before work, and associates can request a temperature check at work. Kroger is also testing one-way aisles in some stores to promote physical distancing between customers and the company is planning to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to all associates within the next several weeks. All Kroger stores will also close early on Easter Sunday, April 12th.
UPDATE 4/16/2020: Kroger will extend the $2.00/hour increase for all associates for all hours worked through May 2, 2020.
UPDATE 4/24/2020: Effective Saturday, April 25, at 5:00 p.m. ET, Kroger will require all associates to wear masks while at work. The company will provide masks to employees to wear while at work. If you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, please contact your union representative immediately.
UPDATE 5/1/2020: Kroger will extend its $2.00/hour increase for all associates for all hours worked through May 16, 2020. The company expects this to be the “final” extension of this pay increase.
UPDATE 5/15/2020: Kroger will provide “thank you” bonuses to some eligible associates instead of extending the $2/hour “hero pay.” Bonuses are $400 for qualified full-time associates and $200 for qualified part-time associates, and will be paid out in two installments: the first on May 28 and the second on June 18. Associates must be active on or before May 23 to be eligible. We are continuing to call on the company to extend hero pay.
UPDATE 2/5/2021: Kroger is providing a one-time $100 “thank you credit” and 1,000 fuel points for all hourly associates active as of January 29, 2021 on their loyalty card. The company is also offering a one-time payment of $100 to all associates who receive the necessary doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Associates will need to present their vaccination record once they complete the appropriate number of doses to receive the payment.
Safeway:
Safeway is temporarily providing an additional $2.00/hour premium for all hours worked, effective Sunday, March 15 through March 28 April 4 Saturday, April 18 May 30, 2020. The company will review and possibly extend the premium for future weeks. Safeway will provide 14 days’ paid sick leave if you test positive for COVID-19. The company has agreed to allow members to wear gloves and masks at work if they choose and Safeway is also installing plexiglass barriers at all checkout stands to protect cashiers.
UPDATE 3/27/2020: Safeway will no longer require employees to bag groceries in reusable bags brought by customers. Customers will be asked to bag their own groceries to lessen the risk of transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UPDATE 4/3/2020: Safeway is extending the $2.00/hour premium through Saturday, April 18, 2020. The company will review and possibly extend the premium for future weeks.
UPDATE 4/9/2020: Starting Friday, April 10th, Safeway will limit capacity to one person per 150 square feet during normal business hours, and one person per 300 square feet during the special hours it has reserved for seniors and other vulnerable customers on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The company will also limit access to its stores with one front entrance and exit and reduce store hours to 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (except at 24 hour locations) and will implement one-way aisles to further promote physical distancing between customers. Safeway is also working to provide reusable masks to all employees.
UPDATE 4/17/2020: Safeway will extend its temporary pay increases through May 2, 2020.
UPDATE 5/1/2020: Safeway will extend its temporary pay increases through May 16, 2020.
UPDATE 5/15/2020: Safeway will extend its temporary pay increases through May 30, 2020.
UPDATE 5/29/2020: Safeway will extend its temporary pay increases through June 13, 2020.
UPDATE 6/12/2020: Safeway will end its temporary pay increases on June 13. The company will provide a one-time bonus equal to $4 per hour for the average hours worked per week between March 15 and June 13. Associates who averaged less than 15 hours a week for this time period will be credited with a minimum average of 15 hours per week.
UPDATE 12/3/2020: Safeway has announced a new “Frontline Hero Award” for all hourly associates. The award is equivalent to $5 per hour for your weekly hours worked between Fiscal Weeks 28 and 39. If you worked less than 15 hours a week during this period, you will be credited with a minimum average of 15 hours per week. The award will be included in your paycheck on December 10, 2020.
UPDATE 2/23/2021: Safeway will provide a $100 incentive to associates who get the vaccine. The $100 payment will be added to the next paycheck/within 1-2 weeks. Associates will need to show a completed vaccination card to be eligible. In addition, a 10% off store coupon will be given to associates after each dose at a vaccine appointment.
Shoppers:
Shoppers is temporarily providing an additional $2.00/hour for all hours worked, effective Sunday, March 15 through April 11. Overtime rates are also doubled the new hourly rate, rather than time and a half.
Thank you for your service to your union, your communities and the country as a whole. You are on the frontlines of this crisis, and you are proving how invaluable your work is, and the vital role our union members play in times like these.
Please know that your UFCW Local 400 family is here for you during these difficult and challenging times. You are not alone. We are one union family, and we are in this together.
UPDATE 4/9/2020: Shoppers is extending its temporary pay increases through May 2, 2020. The monies will be paid in a lump sum and it will read ‘State of Emergency Bonus’ on your paycheck stub.
UPDATE 4/24/2020: At three stores (Lorton, Largo and Catonsville), Shoppers is piloting a new program to ensure workers are not unknowingly reporting to work ill. Shoppers will conduct temperature checks on all associates prior to the start of their shift using a non-contact thermometer. Any individual who has a body temperature of 100.4°F/38°C degrees or higher will not be permitted to work and will be provided with quarantine instructions.
UPDATE 5/1/2020: Shoppers is extending its temporary pay increases through June 6, 2020.
UPDATE 6/3/2020: Shoppers is extending its $2.00/hour temporary pay increases through July 4, 2020, but the double-time for overtime hours will end on June 6, 2020.