One of the largest grocery store chains in America is offering a “hero bonus” to all their workers. This is as a means of thanking their employees for their essential work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Kroger is the second-largest general retailer in the United States. It announced this week that they would be giving all hourly frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing, pharmacy, and call centre workers a temporary raise, to be applied to hours worked from March the 29th through to April the 18th. The dividend will also be paid weekly to ensure employees have access to extra cash.

Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, says “Our associates have displayed the true actions of a hero, working tirelessly on the frontlines to ensure everyone has access to affordable, fresh food and essentials during this national emergency.”

He added that the ‘Hero Bonus’ was to convey thanks and gratitude to existing workers as well as to the more than 30,000 new recruits who have joined the chain in the past two weeks.

The company’s has also published new sanitation guidelines and set up employee benefits for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. Meanwhile, full time employees will also be given a one-time “appreciation bonus” of $300, with $150 to every part-time worker.

The United States currently has almost 337 000 cases of the coronavirus, more than any other country in the world, with almost 10 1000 deaths due to the virus to date. 17 977 people have recovered there.

Umm Muhammed Umar