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Target is a great place to find seasonal work, and permanent employees have access to benefits and perks like a well-being rewards program, a daycare flexible spending account and even identity theft protection.
Now there is one more reason for job seekers to consider applying at the red-themed retailer. Target’s minimum wage will soon get another boost.
Wages on the Way Up
In 2018, Target increased its starting wage from $11 to $12 an hour. In April 2019, the retailer announced that this amount would jump up again to $13 in June. The employer has committed to paying a minimum of $15 an hour by the end of 2020.
“We’ve always offered market-competitive wages to our team members,” Target CEO and chairman Brian Cornell said in a statement. “With this latest commitment, we’ll be providing even more meaningful pay, as well as the tools, training and support our team needs to build their skills, develop professionally and offer the service and expertise that set Target apart.”
Amazon Challenge
After increasing their minimum wage to $15 an hour for all full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees in the United States, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos issued a challenge to his company’s competitors.
“Today I challenge our top retail competitors (you know who you are!) to match our employee benefits and our $15 minimum wage,” Bezos wrote in Amazon’s 2018 letter to shareholders. “Do it! Better yet, go to $16 and throw the gauntlet back at us. It’s a kind of competition that will benefit everyone.”
Employers Answering the Call
In March 2019, Costco upped starting wages from $14 to $15 an hour. Walmart boosted pay for new hires to $11 an hour this year as well.
Similarly, McDonald’s reportedly will no longer fight against efforts to increase the minimum wage. The fast food giant had been lobbying against movements to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. Although pay rates vary, the average starting wage for McDonald’s employees is currently more than $10 an hour.
Tricia is a professional writer and editor who lives in North Texas with her family and one smelly dog. She is a wannabe problem solver, junk food maven professional coffee practitioner, web guru and general communicator. More.
