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Stop & Shop again extends COVID-19 ‘appreciation pay’

Hourly workers to receive 10% increase through early July

Russell Redman

May 28, 2020

2 Min Read
Stop & Shop store banner-shopping carts
Stop & Shop instituted the pay increase in late March and later extended it through the end of May.Stop & Shop

Stop & Shop plans to extend its 10% pay increase for hourly store associates to July 4.

The Ahold Delhaize USA grocery chain announced the move Thursday with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). The “appreciation pay” was first instituted by Stop & Shop on March 20 and then extended through the end of May as the coronavirus crisis continued.

“With incredible dedication, teamwork and care for our customers, Stop & Shop associates are continuing to make extraordinary contributions throughout this situation,” Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement. “The Stop & Shop team continues to play a vital role in serving the needs of our local communities and ensuring that our neighbors have uninterrupted access to the food they need. We are deeply thankful for this tremendous work.”

The pay hike recognizes associates’ efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and covers about 56,000 workers in more than 400 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. New associates hired before May 30 also will receive the increase, Stop & Shop said, added that it has hired and trained more than 8,000 new hourly workers since mid-March.

Stop & Shop, too, said it will continue to offer flexible hours for associates and up to two weeks of additional paid sick leave for employees required to quarantine by government authorities or the company.

Related:Stop & Shop, Giant find skimming devices in self-checkouts at six stores

“Thanks to hardworking UFCW members at Stop & Shop in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, families across the region continue to have the food and groceries they need during this pandemic,” UFCW International President Marc Perrone stated. “Working together with Stop & Shop, we are proud to announce the extension of this pay increase for these essential workers keeping our communities strong. Every supermarket company must follow the lead of Stop & Shop and step up to provide our country’s grocery workers with the good pay and the benefits and protections they need.”

In late April, Stop & Shop said it joined an effort by UFCW to get federal and state governments to classify grocery workers as “extended first responders” or “emergency personnel” during the pandemic so they could be prioritized for testing and personal protective equipment (PPE). Albertsons Cos. and The Kroger Co. also have partnered with UFCW in the first responder status campaign. Earlier this month, UFCW also called on executives of leading grocery retailers to extend COVID-19 emergency pay, noting that grocery workers continue to face potential exposure to the virus.

Related:Stop & Shop customers star in new COVID-19 safe shopping campaign

Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop said its coronavirus safety measures for employees and customers include additional cleaning and sanitation, PPE for associates, protective plexiglass shields at checkout, store capacity limits, one-way aisles and in-store signage to promote social distancing. Customers age 60 and older and people at a higher risk for the virus also have reserved shopping time from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. daily.

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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