Target increasing starting wage for employees

Beginning July 5, Target will be permanently raising its starting wage for team members in the United States to $15 per hour.

In addition, the Minneapolis-based retailer will also be giving a one-time recognition bonus of $200 to frontline store and distribution center hourly workers for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bonus will be distributed at the end of July to eligible full-time and part-time hourly employees.

“In the best of times, our team brings incredible energy and empathy to our work, and in harder times they bring those qualities plus extraordinary resilience and agility to keep Target on the forefront of meeting the changing needs of our guests and our business year after year,” Brian Cornell, the chairman and CEO of Target said. “Everything we aspire to do and be as a company builds on the central role our team members play in our strategy, their dedication to our purpose and the connection they create with our guests and communities.”

Free access to virtual doctor visits for all team members will be available through the end of the year, regardless of whether they are subscribed to its health care plan, the company said.

There also will be an additional extension of a 30-day paid leave for vulnerable team members and backup care for family members.

Additional benefits being applied by the retailer include a vulnerable paid leave for members who are 65 years old or older, pregnant or have underlying medical conditions for those who have not used the 30-day leave option yet; waiving the absenteeism policy; offering paid leave for team members who are symptomatic, have confirmed coronavirus case or have been quarantined due to exposure; and offering free counseling sessions.  

“The most important investments we make are in our team. I have tremendous gratitude for the way our team members show up with such purpose and pride for our guests, communities and one another,” Melissa Kremer, Target's chief human resources officer said. “These investments help ensure that team members can build meaningful careers, take care of themselves and their families and contribute to building our communities through their work inside and outside of Target.”