Doug McCrory

Senator McCrory Calls For Stop & Shop To Continue Hazard Pay For Store Employees

State Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford) joined Senate Democratic Caucus leadership in calling for grocery store chain Stop & Shop to continue the COVID-19 hazard pay it had been providing its frontline workers since April, but which Stop & Shop just cancelled on Independence Day, July 4. While transmission of the virus has declined in Connecticut since the pandemic’s initial apex, COVID-19 transmissions continue across the state today, continuing to put grocery store workers on the pandemic front line.

“Grocery store workers have faced risks to their own health and that of their families to keep the doors open so we can feed our families. They are part of a community of frontline workers who we owe an incredible amount of support and gratitude toward,” said Sen. McCrory. “Stop & Shop should continue to support their employees who are still risking their health and safety, while it has seen sales increases during the pandemic.”

Stop & Shop implemented a program it referred to as “appreciation pay” in five states across the Northeast in April, providing employees in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island with 10 percent pay increases. That program has concluded as of July 4 and no further pay increases are currently expected to be given to employees.

According to a 2020 report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, more than one in four workers employed at grocery, convenience, and drug stores are ages 50 and above. Additionally, Black and Hispanic workers make up close to one-third of individuals employed at these stores. Individuals in these communities are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to advanced age, higher risk of severe illness, and health disparities that impact communities of color.

Sen. McCrory encourages individuals who believe that the Stop & Shop employee appreciation pay program should continue to talk with their local Stop & Shop store manager, or to call Stop & Shop’s corporate customer relations department at 1-800-767-7772, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.