Walgreens to give one-time bonus to store, DC employees; hiring 9,500
Walgreens, which has implemented “social distancing” lines in its stores, is rewarding its employees for working during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also looking to hire more workers.
The drugstore retailer will give a bonus payment of $300 to full-time and $150 to part-time hourly workers in stores and distribution centers beginning in late April.
Walgreens said it is looking to fill more than 9,500 existing full- and part-time and temporary roles in stores across the U.S., including customer service associates, pharmacy technicians and shift leads.
In addition to the increased pay, Walgreens has updated its attendance policy for hourly team members through the end of April, permitting individuals to stay at home due to concerns surrounding COVID-19 for situations including childcare needs, or if team members are showing signs or symptoms of illness.
If an employee contracts a confirmed case of COVID-19, the first two weeks of their absence will be paid. If they are unable to return to work after two weeks, an additional pay option may be available through disability leave.
If a store, area office, distribution center or other company workplace location falls under a mandated quarantine, any impacted team members will also be paid for their absence without requiring the use of paid time off.
Other recent measures taken by Walgreens in response to COVID-19 include:
• Implementing social distancing guidelines to ensure a safer store experience for employees, customers, and patients. All stores now have a “social distancing line,” which begins 6 ft. away from all checkout counters. Lines are clearly marked where customers may wait until the team member instructs them to step to the counter. Six-foot increments are also marked to indicate where customers should stand in line to ensure they are keeping appropriate distance from others.
• Temporary reduction of store operating hours. By operating with reduced hours, Walgreens stores are spending the necessary time, while closed, cleaning, sanitizing and stocking shelves each day.
• Walgreens is also introducing Sanvello, a new, free mobile app for all team members to use during this time of increased stress. The app provides peer support and clinically validated coping tools to reduce stress and anxiety.
Resources are also still available through the company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Life365, that offers confidential behavioral health, childcare, legal support and more.