$5 'Hero Pay' Bump Goes Into Effect
Kroger will be shutting down two Ralph’s locations and one Food 4 Less store, as Los Angeles recently passed a $5 “hero pay” temporary wage hike for pharmacy and grocery workers.
The ordinance from the L.A. City Council — approved on March 3 and spoken of highly by Mayor Eric Garcetti — was intended to incentivize and thank workers in high-risk fields.
“It’s never our desire to close a store, but when you factor in the increased costs of operating during COVID-19, consistent financial losses at these three locations, and an extra pay mandate that will cost nearly $20 million over the next 120 days, it becomes impossible to operate these three stores,” Kroger said in a statement, according to KCBS-TV.
https://www.westernjournal.com/los-a...ent=2021-03-13