SAN ANTONIO – H-E-B will transition its Texas Proud Pay program, which provided hourly increases for store and supply chain employees, into permanent pay raises.
The San Antonio-based grocery chain on Monday said while the Texas Proud Pay program has expired, they will transition to long-term wage raises as employees continue to work at the forefront of consumer demand during the coronavirus pandemic.
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It is the largest pay increase in the history of H-E-B, the chain said online.
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The Texas Proud Pay program offered a $2 pay increase for hourly employees and was implemented on March 16. In May, the temporary pay increase was extended through June 21. On Monday, H-E-B announced it will roll out new investments in pay.
“The accelerated and enhanced permanent pay increases are worth more than twice the amount of the temporary program for the average Partner over the next year, and considerably more over their careers,” an H-E-B spokesperson said.
The chain said it will continue to add “ongoing investments in pay,” perks and benefits for employees, including making Martin Luther King Jr. Day an official, paid holiday.
Employees will receive extended paid medical leave if they are diagnosed with COVID-19, the chain states.
“Texans count on H-E-B, and that means depending on our great Partners, who are the heart and soul of our business,” the chain said online. “We believe this crisis will be around for an indeterminate amount of time and our goal is to reward our Partners for their hard work and dedication with more than temporary bonuses.”
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As of Tuesday morning, at least 40 H-E-B stores have had employees test positive for the virus. The grocery chain includes new cases on each store’s webpage in an effort to be transparent with customers and employees.