Williams-Sonoma increases minimum hourly wage

A major home furnishings retailer giving its hourly employees across all areas of the company a pay hike.

Williams-Sonoma will increase its hourly minimum wage to $15 per hour, effective immediately. The increase will impact employees across the company’s stores, customer care centers and supply chain operations.

In raising its minimum wage, Williams-Sonoma joins a growing list of retailers — from Walmart to Under Armour — who are bumping pay to attract employees during a labor shortage that is hitting the retail industry across both its in- store and supply chain operations.

[Read More: Study: Increased pay alone won’t attract employees]

"Putting our people first is one of our core values and guides our decision-making in how we invest in our associates with meaningful and competitive pay,” said Laura Alber, president and CEO. “Our talented associates in our supply chain, stores, care centers and corporate offices are dedicated to taking care of our customers every day and we are proud to take this step to reward and recognize them for their hard work and contributions.”

In August, Williams-Sonoma reported that its second-quarter revenue rose 30.7% to $1.95 billion. Net income jumped to $246 million from $135 million in the year-ago period.

As of May 2, the retailer operated 578 stores under banners that include Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Rejuvenation.