Lowe’s will pay its frontline employees an additional $100 million in bonuses, bringing the retailer’s total commitment to associates and communities during the pandemic to more than $450 million. The money is being offered to recognize the work they have done for the company during the COVID-19 crisis.
All active hourly associates in Lowe’s U.S. stores, distribution centers and store support centers will receive the bonuses in mid-July. Full-time hourly associates will receive $300, while part-time and seasonal associates will receive $150.
“This year has been full of challenges and uncertainty, and we are tremendously grateful for the hard work, dedication and commitment of our frontline associates,” said Marvin Ellison, CEO and President of Lowe’s in a statement. “At Lowe’s, we believe that our homes and our communities unite us, and we thank our associates for providing our customers with essential products and services while supporting our communities and medical professionals.”
The bonuses, which also were handed out to hourly associates in March and May, represent the latest effort Lowe’s has made to reward its employees. Lowe’s also increased pay for full-time, part-time and seasonal associates by $2 per hour for the month of April, provided $87 million in profit-sharing bonuses to frontline associates in June, and still offers telemedicine services to all associates and their families, even if they are not enrolled in Lowe’s medical plans.
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Unlike the many retailers forced to furlough employees, Lowe’s grew its front-line staff by more than 100,000 during the spring season. The company also has increased its support of communities, providing a total of $70 million in donation commitments through grants and PPE product donations in recent weeks. Initiatives include:
- Donating $50 million in charitable contributions, including a $10 million donation in essential protective products for medical workers;
- Giving all available respirators to the country’s two largest healthcare distribution organizations;
- Empowering all Lowe’s stores to donate products to local hospitals and first responders to serve short- and long-term needs; and
- Donating $1 million of flower baskets for Mother’s Day from its network of small business growers and nurseries, giving them to more than 10,000 mothers in senior living facilities.
