This Is When the Hazard Pay Benefits From the Largest American Employers Have Already Expired or Are About to

Companies gave hazard pay wage increases for frontline workers endangering their health during the coronavirus crisis. (F Armstrong Photo)

When the coronavirus officially became a pandemic in March, it forced companies across America to adjust immediately and significantly. At JUST, we began tracking how the country’s 100 largest employers, representing 13 million workers, are navigating an unprecedented public health and economic crisis.

We saw some impressive leadership from companies that took seriously their responsibilities to their workforce, customers, and the communities in which they operate, which together will ensure their longterm resilience. That first phase of the crisis has come to an end, and we are now in a transition to a “new normal.” The trend for new cases appears to be going down in some parts of the country, but the virus is far from defeated, even as states continue to lift business restrictions. Corporations are now faced with how they are going to reopen.

One benefit that came out of the first phase was hazard pay, a pay increase for the workers putting their health on the line by going to work and interacting with customers and each other as COVID-19 cases continued to rise. The public expects this policy and prioritizes it – our polling found that 77% of Americans are in favor of hazard pay or a similar pay benefit for these essential workers. And while some companies have recognized the continued threat of the virus by extending personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and work from home opportunities for those that can take it, we’re reaching a point where the hazard pay policies put in place back in March are soon to expire.

We’ve highlighted below the 21 companies from our COVID-19 Corporate Response Tracker that have implemented a hazard pay policy, and when they’re set to expire. We will update the list as necessary.

When Hazard Pay Will Expire

Walmart told JUST that it extended the end date of its $2/hour wage increase for e-commerce fulfillment and factory workers from May 25 to July 3.

Those Still in Effect

Target announced it was increasing its starting wage for hourly workers to $15 beginning in July, effectively making its $2/hour hazard pay increase permanent.

Charter Communications announced on April 2 that it gave all frontline workers a $1.50/hour raise, putting them on a path to a $20/hour minimum wage in 2022, effectively making its hazard pay increase permanent.

Bank of America is giving branch workers a $200 biweekly bonus and double overtime to call center workers and support personnel in offices, and the policies are still in effect with no end date set.

Home Depot offers a weekly bonus of $100 to full-time workers and of $50 to part-time workers, as well as double overtime, and the policies are still in effect with no end date set.

Verizon is giving an undisclosed wage increase to frontline workers, and the policy is still in effect with no end date set.

Those That Expired

Chipotle extended the end date of its 10% hourly wage from May 24, but let it expire on June 7.

US Bancorp  had extended its 20% wage increase for frontline workers from late May, but let it expire on June 6.

Amazon had extended the end date of its increase of $2/hour for warehouse workers from May 16, but let it expire on May 31.

Starbucks offers a $3/hour increase through May 31.

Ulta Beauty offers a $2/hour increase for distribution center workers through May 31.

DaVita let its $100 per week in “relief reimbursement” on a case by case basis expire on May 30.

Dollar Tree had extended the end date of its increase of a $2/hour increase to all distribution center workers and store employees, except store managers, from May 16, but let it expire on May 30.

Kroger let its hazard pay of $2/hour expire on May 16, but announced a one-time bonus of $400 for full-time workers and of $200 for part-time workers, paid over two installments, on May 30 and June 19.

AT&T offered a 20% bonus each pay cycle for frontline workers and up to a $1,000 monthly bonus for frontline managers but let it expire the week of May 8.

Lowe’s let its $2/hour hazard pay expire on April 30, but announced a new one-time bonus of $300 for full-time workers and of $150 for part-time workers, paid in May.

PepsiCo lets its additional $100 weekly bonus expire in late April.

Costco had its initial $2/hour raise expire on April 5.

Where Others Stand

There has been no specific end date disclosed by the following: Cigna, Darden, and XPO.

For more details, check out our analysis of how the largest employers have approached the overall financial security of their workers, as well as our Tracker.

This list was originally posted on May 13 and last updated on June 17. A previous version of this list incorrectly listed Walmart’s end date.