Kroger will make a more than $770 million incremental investment in its associates during 2023 in order to raise average hourly rates, improve healthcare options and build new training and development opportunities, among other plans. This initiative builds on the $1.9 billion Kroger has invested in its workers since 2018.
The grocer’s investments in its frontline workers have raised the company’s average hourly rate from $18 per hour in 2018 to $23.50 per hour today. Other investments include:
- An program that offers associates up to $21,000 toward continuing education opportunities;
- Affordable and accessible healthcare options, including free counseling through the company’s Well-Being Assistant; and
- Free financial coaching services for all hourly associates.
“Our associates enable our success, and we are committed to investing in theirs,” said Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of Kroger in a statement. “For so many Kroger represents a first job, a new beginning or a change in career path. Continuing to raise wages and provide excellent benefits to our associates is one way we demonstrate how much we value and respect their contributions.”
Other retailers that have made, or are planning to make, investments in their associates include:
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- Dollar Tree, which plans to increase average wages by $2 per hour in 2023;
- The Home Depot, which developed an app to help associates prioritize tasks more effectively and introduced a new pay policy that rounds clock-ins and clock-outs to the nearest minute rather than the nearest 15 minutes; and
- Kum & Go, which will deploy floor-cleaning robots to free up associates so they can spend more time on tasks like stocking, handling fresh food orders and engaging with customers.
