(WAND) – Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. has announced that the company plans to increase its minimum wage to $ 18.50 effective January 1, 2022.
In a press release, the company reported a record of 12 minimum wage increases in the past 13 years. Executives said they were one of the first retailers to set a nationwide hourly minimum wage “well above the federal minimum wage.”
The last increase was in 2014, when the company grew to $ 15.
“We have a long history of supporting our people,” said David Green, Founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby. “In 1998, we made the decision to close our stores on Sundays and at 8:00 pm the rest of the week, to give employees time to rest, meet with family and pray. We have also worked hard over the years to provide the best salaries and benefits in retail, which has enabled us to attract and retain an exceptional group of associates to serve our dedicated clients.
“We are grateful for our success as a business and excited to start the new year by sharing this success with thousands of our employees. “
Hobby Lobby also offers benefits to eligible employees. These include what the company has called an “exceptional” medical, prescription, and dental plan, a 401 (k) plan with generous corporate consideration, a flexible spending plan, health benefits. long term disability, life insurance, vacation pay, paid personal leave. benefits with annual buy-back, vacation pay, chaplain services and employee discounts.
