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Stater Bros. extends $2 hourly wage bonus into January

Southern California grocer continues program as region sees COVID-19 infections skyrocket

Russell Redman

December 22, 2020

2 Min Read
Stater Bros Markets store banner.jpg
The additional two weeks marks the sixth time that Stater Bros. has extended the $2 hourly wage incentive.Stater Bros. Markets

Stater Bros. Markets is extending its $2 hourly incentive for frontline workers after temporarily reinstating the program earlier this month.

San Bernardino, Calif.-based Stater Bros. said Tuesday that all hourly employees in its store, distribution, transportation and construction operations and corporate offices will receive an extra $2 per hour worked for another two weeks, effective as of the work period starting Dec. 27. 

The move comes as a “show of our appreciation” of workers’ extra efforts during the busy holiday season and the coronavirus pandemic, the retailer said. The company’s home market of Southern California is currently experiencing the highest growth rate in COVID-19 cases in the country.

“I am extremely proud of our employees, who remain dedicated to serving the needs of our Southern California shoppers,” Stater Bros. CEO Pete Van Helden said in a statement. “This incentive recognizes our employees for their ongoing extraordinary efforts during the holidays.”

The additional two weeks marks the sixth time that Stater Bros. has extended the $2 hourly wage incentive. The grocer first instituted the bonus pay in March, with plans to offer it from March 23 through the ensuing four weeks. Then in April, the retailer announced two extensions of the COVID-19 incentive pay, first to May 3 and then to May 17. That was followed by announcements on May 12 for an extension to May 31 and on May 22 for an extension to June 14. 

Related:Buehler’s to pay bonuses for employees’ COVID efforts

And in December, Stater Bros. restarted the hourly wage incentive for frontline workers, paying an extra $2 per hour for three weeks from the work periods starting Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. The move came upon a new hazard pay agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers unions, including UFCW Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442.

All Stater Bros. locations are currently operating from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Overall, the company has more than 18,000 employees and 170 supermarkets.

According to the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Resource Center, Los Angeles has seen the highest number of coronavirus cases by county in the nation, at nearly 635,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, including over 8,900 deaths. The number of COVID-19 cases has averaged well over 10,000 daily — and topped 20,000 one day — over the past two weeks.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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