Home Depot limits in-store customers; halts sales of N95 masks
The Home Depot announced temporary changes to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 along with an update on how it is contributing to front line medical professionals.
The home improvement giant is limiting the number of customers allowed into its stores at any one time and marking floors and installing signage to help customers and employees maintain safe distances. The retailer is also giving thermometers to store and distribution center employees to perform health checks before reporting to work.
In other moves, Home Depot is closing stores at 6 p.m. to allow more time for sanitization and restocking. It also is eliminating its major spring promotions to avoid driving high levels of traffic to stores and is limiting services and installations to those that are essential for maintenance and repair needs in impacted markets.
In addition, Home Depot has executed a “Stop-Sale” on all N95 safety masks in stores and HomeDepot.com and redirected all shipments to be donated to hospitals, healthcare providers and first responders around the country. The company said it is donating millions of dollars in personal protective equipment (PPE) and other products to hospitals, healthcare providers and first responders. The retailer is prioritizing order fulfillment for hospitals, healthcare providers and first responders.
"As our communities battle COVID-19, The Home Depot is committed to providing the essential needs required to maintain homes and businesses while doing our best to protect our valued customers and associates,” said Craig Menear, chairman, CEO and president of The Home Depot. “This has resulted in several temporary changes to our business as we look out for your safety and the safety of our associates.”
As previously announced, Home Depot has introduced several benefits enhancements to its employees. The company has:
• Added 80 hours of paid time off for all full-time hourly associates and 40 hours of paid time off for part-time hourly associates to be used at their discretion at any time in 2020 and paid out at year-end if not used.
• For associates who are 65 years of age or older, or determined to be at higher risk by the CDC, added 160 hours of paid time off for full-time hourly associates and 80 hours of paid time off for part-time hourly associates to be used at their discretion at any time in 2020 and paid out at year-end if not used.
• Providing paid time off for any associate who has contracted COVID-19 until released by a doctor.
• Providing up to 14 days paid time off for any associate required to be quarantined by a public health authority or the CDC.
• Providing additional bonuses to hourly associates in stores and distribution centers -- $100 per week for full-time hourly associates and $50 per week for part-time hourly associates.
• Providing double pay for overtime hours worked by hourly associates.
• Extended dependent care benefits and waived co-pays.
• Asked all associates in store support functions who can work from home to do so while continuing to support our frontline associates.