Fareway to Distribute Second Round of Bonus Pay

While grocery workers continue to push for better compensation in light of the on-the-job risks they face related to COVID-19, there’s been a decided lull in hero pay and bonuses, until now. Fareway Stores Inc. of Boone, Iowa, is distributing a second round of its Fareway Family Front Line Plan, which will provide cash bonuses to its hourly employees who have worked on the front lines during these unprecedented times.

A cash bonus will be paid to each hourly employee that worked in July or August and is employed as of Aug. 22, 2020. The bonuses range up to $500 per employee, with a total investment of several million dollars to approximately 10,200 front-line employees, the company said. The Fareway corporate office will distribute the bonuses to qualifying hourly employees on Sept. 4.

“As 2020 continues to present challenges, we are incredibly grateful for the efforts of our employees,” said Fareway President and CEO Reynolds Cramer, in a statement. “Throughout our communities, Fareway employees have offered customers a sense of stability in uncertain times. With their continued hard work and willingness to meet new expectations, we will rise above future challenges.”

While numerous other grocers announced hero pay bumps and bonuses earlier in the pandemic, many ceased the practice this spring. Some, including West Sacramento, Calif.-based Raley’s announced additional pay late last month. However, Fareway is the latest to compensate its front-line workers with a supplementary round of bonus pay.

A growing Midwest grocery company that currently operates 123 grocery store locations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota, Fareway is actively seeking additional employees at its distribution center and many retail locations.