These Retailers Are Paying Workers While Closed Due to the Coronavirus Outbreak
Click here to read the full article.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, all is not business as usual.
States across the country — such as Ohio, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey — have ordered the closure of bars and restaurants, other than take-out operations, as they seek to rein in the outbreak, with a stay-in-place order issued for residents of California’s Bay Area. The Federal Reserve implemented an emergency rate cut, setting its benchmark to the rate of 0% to .25%, the first cut of its kind since the 2008 financial crisis. Stocks across the board have been slammed: The Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost nearly three years of gains as investors signal caution about the financial outlook.
More from Footwear News
These 6 Popular Shoe Brands Can be Sanitized to Safeguard Against the Coronavirus
Designer Christian Siriano Is Making Medical Masks for New York's Coronavirus Crisis
Americans have been advised to stay home amid containment efforts, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking that public gatherings of over 50 people be canceled for two months. In parallel, retailers across the fashion and footwear industries have made the decision to temporarily shutter all U.S. outposts. For retail workers, getting paid is often contingent upon coming in for a shift, but many brands and retailers have asserted that employees will be compensated, and in some cases, receive benefits, despite closures.
Below, FN rounds up the fashion and footwear companies that have pledged to pay workers while doors remain shut.
Abercrombie
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has closed all stores outside of the Asia-Pacific region until March 28. In a release, CEO Fran Horowitz said that “All store associates will continue to receive pay in alignment with business-as-usual operations.”
Adidas
Adidas announced the closure of all directly owned Adidas and Reebok stores in the U.S. and Canada beginning March 17 and in Europe beginning March 18; stores will be shut until March 29. The company said all retail employees will be paid for hours they were scheduled to work during the closures.
Allbirds
Allbirds has shut down all stores in the U.S. and Europe through March 27. While doors remain closed, the eco-friendly brand announced that all employees will receive “full pay and benefits.”
Capri Holdings
Capri Holdings, parent to Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors, on Tuesday announced the shuttering of all directly operated North American stores from March 18 through April 10; its European units will close starting March 19. The company said it “remains committed to paying its store employees during this period.”
Cole Haan
Cole Haan announced on that its doors in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Washington, and California are closed effective March 17 with the expectation of reopening on or before March 31. Affected employees “will receive pay and benefits during the expected closure period,” the brand said in a release.
Concepts
Boutique retailer Concepts announced on Monday that its doors in Boston and New York will be closed for at least two weeks. The retailer’s employees “will be given paid time off” during this period, the announcement said.
Crocs
Crocs has closed all North American stores from March 17 to March 29. All retail workers in the region will continue to receive full pay and benefits for their regularly scheduled shifts.
Deckers Brands
Deckers Brands announced it will shutter all North American Ugg outposts along with Sanuk’s Orlando, Fla. store through the end of March. Employees of those stores will continue to receive payment and benefits during this time.
DSW
DSW has closed its store for a temporary period of time beginning on March 17; it has not announced a reopen date. The retailer said “emergency pay will be activated for store associates, who are not working, to cover their scheduled shifts.”
DTLR
DTLR corporate offices and stores will be shuttered from March 18 through March 31. The retailer’s team members will continue to be paid while doors are closed.
Everlane
Everlane announced Sunday that it would shutter its doors for two weeks. During this time, the ethically minded brand said it will be “offering compensation to our retail team members.”
Foot Locker
Foot Locker has decided to shut North American stores from March 17 to March 31. “In the meantime, Foot Locker team members will continue to be paid,” the company said.
Freda Salvador
On Sunday, Freda Salvador said its doors in San Francisco and New York will remain closed through the end of March. The independent label said its team members will continue to be compensated despite the closures.
Gap
On Monday, Gap Inc. announced that it was reducing operating hours throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as temporarily shuttering 100 stores in the hardest-hit areas. The company said both full- and part-time employees across its banners, including Athleta, Banana Republic and Old Navy, will receive compensation during this time.
Greats
Greats has closed its retail stores through at least March 28. “Our retail staff will be paid during the two-week shutdown,” the sneaker brand said in an Instagram post.”
Guess
Guess has shuttered all U.S. and Canada locations through March 27. The company confirmed that impacted employees will continue to receive full pay and benefits for their scheduled shifts.
Hudson’s Bay Co.
Hudson’s Bay Co. announced on March 17 that it would close all stores for two weeks, at which time it would reassess the situation. Store associate will be paid for all shifts they were scheduled to work during that time frame, the retailer said.
J.Crew
J.Crew has shut down all J.Crew and J.Crew Factory stores through March 28. The ready-to-wear label said its store associates “will be paid during this time frame.”
Kering
Beginning March 17, Kering stores have shuttered for two weeks in the U.S. and Canada across the luxury conglomerate’s banners, including Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen and more. Impacted employees will be paid during the closure period.
L Brands
L Brands Inc, parent to Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works and Pink, is closing all stores in the U.S. and Canada from March 17 through March 29. The company said workers will continue to be paid throughout the closure.
L.L. Bean
All L.L. Bean stores will be closed through March 29. Throughout the shutdown, “all store employees will receive pay and benefits,” CEO and President Steve Smith said in a statement.
Lululemon
Lululemon stores in Europe and North America are shuttered through March 27. During this time, the company said it would pay all employees for hours they had been scheduled to work.
Macy’s
All locations across Macy’s Inc.’s holdings, including Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, will be shuttered through the end of March. The company said it “will provide benefits and compensation to its impacted workforce.”
Madewell
All Madewell locations are closed through March 28. “We are thankful for our store teams and will continue to pay them through this period,” the brand said in a statement.
Merrell
Merrell’s 44 stores are closed until at least March 27, at which point the company will reevaluate. The brand said it will continue to pay employees during this temporary closure.
New Balance
New Balance has closed doors in the U.S., Western Europe and Canada through at least March 27. “All associates in North America will receive their regular pay and benefits during this period,” the company said in a statement.
Nike
Nike has closed all of its U.S. stores, as well as its outposts in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Western Europe, from Monday, March 16 through March 27. The Swoosh plans to fully compensate workers during this time.
Nordstrom
Nordstrom has decided to shut all of its 380 doors for two weeks. The Seattle-based retailer will continue to pay retail store employees during this time, as well as to provide full benefits.
Patagonia
Patagonia closed all operations on Friday, March 13, with plans to reassess the situation on March 27. “All Patagonia employees will receive their regular pay during the closure,” Rose Marcario, CEO and president of Patagonia Inc., said in a statement.
PVH Corp.
PVH Corp. has closed all doors in Europe and North America from March 17 through March 29. The Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger parent said it would fully compensate retail associates for their scheduled shifts during the closure.
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren has shuttered all North American stores from March 18 through March 29. All employees impacted by the shutdown will receive full pay during this time.
Reformation
All Reformation stores are temporarily shuttered, with no reopen date announced yet. The sustainably minded brand said its retail teams “will be given paid time off.”
REI
In a statement on Sunday, REI president and CEO, Eric Artz announced the closure of all 162 locations until March 27. Artz wrote that “all employees from our stores will be paid during this temporary closure.”
Ross Stores Inc.
All Ross Dress for Less and dd’s Discounts stores in the U.S. have been temporarily shuttered from March 20 to April 3. The company announced that it would provide two weeks of pay for all full-time and hourly associates affected by the closures.
Rothy’s
Rothy’s has closed its doors in New York, Boston, Washington D.C. and San Francisco through the end of March. All retail store employees will be paid during this time, the sustainable shoe brand said.
Shoe Carnival
Shoe Carnival has made the decision to temporarily shutter its stores across the United States and in Puerto Rico from March 19 to April 2. During that period, it will continue to pay store associates.
Steve Madden
Steve Madden has closed U.S. stores through March 27. On Instagram, the company said its “employees will continue to receive their regular pay during this period.”
Tapestry Inc.
Tapestry Inc. is shuttering stores under the Kate Spade, Coach and Stuart Weitzman banners in North America and the U.S. through at least March 27. During the temporary shutdown, Tapestry employees at impacted locations will continue to receive scheduled pay and benefits.
Under Armour
Under Armour’s North American stores are shut down from March 16 through March 28. The athletic giant told FN it will continue to pay all workers during this time.
VF Corp.
Vans and Timberland parent VF Corp. has announced the closure of all doors until April 5. “Associates employed at our stores will continue to receive full pay and benefits during the closures,” the company said in a statement.
Want more?
The Met Gala & All the Major Events Cancelled Due to Coronavirus
Best of Footwear News
These Theories About How Black Friday Got Started Will Surprise You
A Look Back at Iconic Department Stores That Went Out of Business
6 Shoe Companies That Have Gone Bankrupt in the Past Year — & How They're Faring Now
Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
