LAKEWOOD, Colo., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural
Grocers has announced new and updated company-wide policies as the
Coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the communities which it
serves and its good4uSM Crew. The updated guidelines
include additional COVID-19 related health insurance and healthcare
benefits for the good4u Crew, updated store hours, and a
second special shopping hour dedicated to vulnerable
populations.
STORE UPDATES
- Starting on Monday, April 6, all
stores will close at 8:05 p.m. so
that the company's good4u Crews can restock and thoroughly clean
their stores.
- Natural Grocers is now offering two shopping hours exclusively
for seniors (ages 60 and older), pregnant women and individuals
with underlying medical conditions. Anyone included in these
categories may be accompanied by someone if they need assistance
shopping.
-
- Every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00
a.m.
- Every Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00
a.m.
- The new store hours will remain in effect until further
notice and apply to all 157 Natural Grocers stores located in
Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho,
Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah,
Washington and Wyoming.
- The front entrance of each store will be staffed with a Crew
member who will clean carts for customers as they enter, and ensure
social distancing measures are being followed.
- All stores will have a set maximum number of customers allowed
in at one time based on square footage. All stores will adhere to
any city, county or state orders regarding how many people can be
in a store at any given time, which may be based on square footage
of the store or a percentage of maximum occupancy.
- Natural Grocers has hired 700 temporary workers dispersed
through all stores to assist with cleaning and stocking.
GOOD4U CREW UPDATES
- All Crew are being provided with disposable gloves and face
masks. Since there is a shortage of masks, multiple Crew members
from all parts of the company have made masks for in-store,
distribution center and bulk manufacturing good4u Crew.
- Natural Grocers has implemented multiple benefits to support
the good4u Crew during the pandemic including raises, bonuses, and
additional paid time off availability. Now the company will pay for
all Coronavirus/COVID-19 fees for Crew who have medical insurance
benefits through Natural Grocers, including:
-
- COVID-19 diagnostic visits - Natural Grocers will pay for these
diagnostic visits, so that Crew will not incur any out-of-pocket
costs for COVID-19-related visits with in-network providers,
whether at a provider's office, urgent care center, emergency room,
or via virtual care, through May 31,
2020.
- COVID-19 testing - Natural Grocers will pay for this testing,
so that Crew will not incur any out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19
FDA-approved testing through May 31,
2020.
- COVID-19 treatment - Natural Grocers will pay for this
treatment, so that Crew will not incur any out-of-pocket costs for
COVID-19-related treatment provided by in-network providers through
May 31, 2020.
In addition to the above, Natural Grocers previously announced
the implementation of additional critical policies and guidelines
related to the Coronavirus pandemic, including:
- To support Natural Grocers' store and bulk manufacturing Crews
and to acknowledge the vital service they are providing to the
community, Natural Grocers has provided a $2 per hour pay increase effective March 23. $1 per
hour will be permanent and $1 per
hour will be temporary through May 3,
2020. The company has also provided two discretionary
bonuses to store Crew and one to bulk manufacturing Crew that have
been paid out over the last 4 weeks.
- Natural Grocers is providing up to 2 weeks of paid leave to all
good4u Crew (both full-time and part-time) if they are diagnosed
with COVID-19 or if they are placed under mandatory quarantine by
public health authorities. If Crew are ill but cannot get tested
for COVID-19, Natural Grocers will provide up to one week of paid
leave.
- Plexiglass sneeze guards are being installed at each register
to help mitigate potential exposure. Additionally, customers are
asked to bag or box their own purchases. If a customer places a
reusable bag or other personal item at the bagging station, Crew
will clean the bagging station before assisting the next
customer.
- Home delivery is available at most Natural Grocers through
Instacart (www.instacart.com/natural-grocers).
For all Natural Grocers' updates related to the Coronavirus
pandemic, please visit:
https://www.naturalgrocers.com/few-more-updates-regarding-coronavirus.
To locate the closest Natural Grocers store, visit the store
directory.
About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural
Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com)
is an expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural
groceries, body care products and dietary supplements. The company
offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format, affordable prices and
free, science-based nutrition education programs to help customers
make informed health and nutrition choices. Founded in Colorado in 1955, Natural Grocers has more
than 3,500 employees and operates 157 stores in 20 states.
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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.