Lowe's has more than 2,200 stores. MELISSA KEY/CBJ
COMPANIES
IN THIS ARTICLE
Lowe's Cos. Inc.
Mooresville, NC
Retailer
$71.3BRevenue
175KEmployees
By Jennifer Thomas – Senior Staff Writer, Charlotte Business Journal
Apr 2, 2020
Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is taking steps to protect its employees and customers as the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to spread.
The Mooresville-based retailer announced operational changes on Thursday, including plans to close stores at 7 p.m., limit the number of customers allowed in each store and take additional steps to better enforce social-distancing protocols.
That list also includes a pay bump of $2 per hour for full-time, part-time and seasonal hourly employees throughout the month of April. The home-improvement giant has more than 300,000 employees at 2,200 stores. Roughly 90% of employees at Lowe’s stores, contact centers and supply-chain facilities in the U.S. and Canada are hourly employees.
The company is in the process of hiring 30,000 additional employees.
"We are continually working on ways to protect and support our associates and our customers during this time when we are all adjusting how we work and live," says Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s president and CEO.
The changes come two days after Lowe’s confirmed two employees in Charlotte had tested positive for COVID-19. Rival Home Depot announced stricter safety protocols on Wednesday as well.
Other changes dial in on store layout and social-distancing measures.
Lowe’s has developed a new app that allows store managers to monitor foot traffic and limit entrance by customers based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and local officials. Social-distancing ambassadors are being added to monitor customer flow in garden centers and front-end areas and enforce occupancy limits for proper social distancing. Floor markers spaced 6 feet apart have been added to guide customers. Those add to existing signage encouraging social distancing and overhead announcements every 15 minutes to remind customers.
Plexiglass shields have been installed at all points of sale. The retailer is also making gloves and masks available to all employees.
Lowe’s has updated store layouts to open up aisles by removing displays from main aisles and removing racing and tables in other aisles to open up space. It has expanded space dedicated to the Buy Online, Pick Up in Store option and for returns.
The 7 p.m. closing — 90 minutes earlier than normal on most days — will provide additional time to replenish essential products and thoroughly clean and sanitize stores. Lowe’s has increased third-party cleaning shifts at its stores.
Lowe’s says it has committed $170 million in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
That includes $80 million in special payments to full- and part-time, hourly employees. Another $25 million goes directly to support the needs of its employees, customers and communities — including $10 million for critical products for medical personnel.
The company has extended emergency paid leave up to four weeks for those at higher risk and expanded telemedicine benefits for all employees.
COMPANIES
IN THIS ARTICLE
Lowe's Cos. Inc.
Mooresville, NC
Retailer
$71.3BRevenue
175KEmployees
By Jennifer Thomas – Senior Staff Writer, Charlotte Business Journal
Apr 2, 2020
Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is taking steps to protect its employees and customers as the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to spread.
The Mooresville-based retailer announced operational changes on Thursday, including plans to close stores at 7 p.m., limit the number of customers allowed in each store and take additional steps to better enforce social-distancing protocols.
That list also includes a pay bump of $2 per hour for full-time, part-time and seasonal hourly employees throughout the month of April. The home-improvement giant has more than 300,000 employees at 2,200 stores. Roughly 90% of employees at Lowe’s stores, contact centers and supply-chain facilities in the U.S. and Canada are hourly employees.
The company is in the process of hiring 30,000 additional employees.
"We are continually working on ways to protect and support our associates and our customers during this time when we are all adjusting how we work and live," says Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s president and CEO.
The changes come two days after Lowe’s confirmed two employees in Charlotte had tested positive for COVID-19. Rival Home Depot announced stricter safety protocols on Wednesday as well.
Other changes dial in on store layout and social-distancing measures.
Lowe’s has developed a new app that allows store managers to monitor foot traffic and limit entrance by customers based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and local officials. Social-distancing ambassadors are being added to monitor customer flow in garden centers and front-end areas and enforce occupancy limits for proper social distancing. Floor markers spaced 6 feet apart have been added to guide customers. Those add to existing signage encouraging social distancing and overhead announcements every 15 minutes to remind customers.
Plexiglass shields have been installed at all points of sale. The retailer is also making gloves and masks available to all employees.
Lowe’s has updated store layouts to open up aisles by removing displays from main aisles and removing racing and tables in other aisles to open up space. It has expanded space dedicated to the Buy Online, Pick Up in Store option and for returns.
The 7 p.m. closing — 90 minutes earlier than normal on most days — will provide additional time to replenish essential products and thoroughly clean and sanitize stores. Lowe’s has increased third-party cleaning shifts at its stores.
Lowe’s says it has committed $170 million in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
That includes $80 million in special payments to full- and part-time, hourly employees. Another $25 million goes directly to support the needs of its employees, customers and communities — including $10 million for critical products for medical personnel.
The company has extended emergency paid leave up to four weeks for those at higher risk and expanded telemedicine benefits for all employees.
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