Lowe's Commits More Than $250m In Response To Coronavirus Pandemic

At Lowe’s, we understand the important role our stores play in providing essential products and services to our customers, government officials and first responders, and we have taken steps to ensure we can continue to support customers and our more than 300,000 associates. We have committed more than $250 million to support our associates and communities during this unprecedented time.

Lowe’s Commitment to Associates – 5/4/20

EVP of Stores Shares Plans – 4/2/20

Letter from President and CEO, Marvin Ellison – 3/20/20

Lowe’s Community Commitment – 3/20/20

Letter from President and CEO, Marvin Ellison – 3/11/20

STORE EXPERIENCE

The health and well-being of our associates and customers is our priority, and our customers are currently depending on us for urgent, critical needs like refrigerators and freezers, among other items such as generators, cleaning products, safety equipment and harsh weather items. We have implemented additional efforts to protect the safety and well-being of our associates and customers.

• Enhanced social distancing protocols by adding dedicated social distancing ambassadors responsible for monitoring customer flow in garden centers and front-end areas and to enforce customer limits to allow proper social distancing.
• Made substantial updates to our store floor layouts to further support the CDC’s guidelines for social distancing, such as opening up aisle space by removing displays to make it easier for both associates and customers to get the items they need quickly and safely.
• Developed an app to monitor store occupancy, allowing store managers to limit customer traffic when necessary to help enforce social distancing.
• Implemented curbside pickup nationwide, so customers can be served without having to come inside the store.
• Installed customized Plexiglass shields at all points of sale to protect our cashiers and customer service associates working at the return desk.
• Increased third-party cleaning shifts to provide incremental cleaning in our stores, beyond already enhanced daily cleaning efforts. Cashiers and front-end teams are also regularly cleaning their work areas and registers.
• Added overhead announcements, store signage, floor markers, badges and customer and associate guidelines to emphasize the importance of social distancing.

These efforts build upon our previous actions to support the health and well-being of associates and customers. We continue to work closely with health authorities and local officials to take appropriate preventative measures

SUPPORTING OUR ASSOCIATES

We want to thank our more than 300,000 associates who continue to provide support to our customers. We have taken the following actions to support our associates and their families:

• All hourly associates will receive another special payment in  May, matching the $80 million special payment we made in March, in recognition of their dedicated efforts and to help with unplanned expenses and hardships. All full-time hourly associates will receive a payment of $300, and all part-time and seasonal associates will receive $150.
• Requiring all associates to wear a face mask or approved face covering while working in a store or a customer’s home, and making masks and gloves available to all associates in the workplace. Temporarily increased wages by $2 an hour for every full-time, part-time and seasonal hourly store, contact center and supply chain associates for hours they worked throughout the month of April in the U.S. and Canada.
• Offered 14-days of emergency paid leave for all associates who need it, whether that’s because they are feeling sick, caring for a loved one, or because they have been faced with new hardships such as closed schools and daycares.
• Extended emergency paid leave up to a total of four weeks for those at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• Extended telemedicine benefits through Teladoc to all associates and their families whether they are seasonal, temporary, part-time or full-time, regardless if they are enrolled in Lowe’s medical plan.
• Created pantries in stores so that associates can have access to food while at the store and to take home.
• Donated $3 million to support associates through Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund.

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

As part of our more than $250 million commitment, Lowe’s is dedicating $25 million to support the emerging needs of our associates, customers and communities, which includes a $10 million donation in essential protective products to do our part in helping keep medical professionals on the frontlines healthy and safe. The funds will also support local small businesses.

We empowered all Lowe’s stores to donate products to local hospitals and first responders in their communities to serve short and long-term needs. Lowe’s stopped selling N95 respirators and has donated all of its medical-grade respirators to the country’s two largest healthcare distribution organizations. These companies cover 85 percent of the nation’s acute facilities/healthcare facilities. Read more about our commitment here.

HIRING

We are actively hiring for 30,000 positions in-stores across the U.S. to support our communities. We have full-time, part-time, seasonal and overnight roles available for displaced workers who are seeking short-term opportunities. Those interested in applying can visit jobs.lowes.com or text “JOBS” to LOWES (56937) to learn more about available opportunities and apply.

Source : Lowe's

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