Target will raise minimum wage to $15
Higher pay for workers starts next month
Target said Wednesday that it will raise its minimum wage for U.S. hourly workers to $15 beginning July 5.
The increase is for all U.S. hourly full-time and part-time team members at stores, distribution centers and headquarters locations, the company said, noting it set a goal in September 2017 to raise the starting rate to $15 an hour by the end of 2020. In June 2019, it increased wages to $13 an hour.
The retailer, based in Minneapolis, said it will give its store and distribution center hourly workers a one-time recognition bonus of $200 “for their efforts throughout the coronavirus pandemic.”
Target said in May that it was extending the $2-an-hour temporary wage increase for employees during the COVID-19 crisis through July 4, which is two months longer than originally announced.
According to Wednesday’s announcement, the bonus will be distributed at the end of July to eligible fulltime and part-time hourly team members at both stores and distribution centers. Target said this is “on top of bonuses of $250-$1,500 paid out in April to 20,000 hourly store team leads who oversee individual departments in Target stores.”
Target officials said that, including the new changes, the company is investing “nearly $1 billion more this year in the well-being, health and safety of team members” than it did in 2019.
Target said it will offer free access to virtual doctor visits for all team members through the end of the year and announced “additional extensions of a 30-day paid leave for vulnerable team members” and free backup care for family members.