Target hiking its starting wage to $15

https://nypost.com/2020/06/17/target-hikes-minimum-wage-to-15-an-hour-amid-coronavirus/


By Noah Manskar
June 17, 2020 | 11:09am


Target will permanently hike its starting wage to $15 — six months earlier than the retailer’s long-term wage-hike plan had called for — in an effort to support workers during the coronavirus crisis.

The Minneapolis-based chain, which previously was paying workers at least $13 an hour, started paying the higher wage in March to compensate staffers who kept its stores open amid the pandemic. The raise will take effect July 5 for hourly workers at Target’s stores, distribution centers and headquarters offices, the big-box retailer said Wednesday.

The move comes roughly six months ahead of Target’s self-imposed deadline for increasing its minimum hourly pay to $15, a goal it set in 2017. Seven states have plans to raise their minimum wages to $15, which is more than double the federal baseline.

Target also said it will give $200 bonuses at the end of next month to certain “frontline” workers who pitched in during the virus crisis. The company said it will invest nearly $1 billion more in its employees’ health and safety this year than in 2019 between the higher wages, bonuses, paid leave and other efforts.

•••••