Hobby Lobby Raises Minimum Wage to $14 for Full-Time Employees

Christian Post ^ | 04/18/2013 | By Leonardo Blair

[SeekAndFind]

Arts and crafts giant Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. announced on Monday that effective immediately, the minimum wage for its full-time hourly employees at its stores and affiliate Hemisphere was increased to $14. The hourly wage for part-time employees was also increased to $9.50.

In a report on Thursday, founder and CEO of the company David Green said the decision was simply an acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of his employees.

"We are very fortunate to be able to increase hourly wages for our employees, because we know our company would not be successful without the great work they do each day in our stores across the nation," said Green.

"We know that if we reward our employees for their hard work, we will be rewarded in turn with their loyalty and dedication to their job and to our customers," he added.

Hobby Lobby's President Honored for Practicing Biblical Values in Marketplace

Hobby lobby, one of America's largest privately owned companies headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., employs 22,000 workers in 525 stores nationwide. This is the fifth successive year the company has increased wages for hourly paid full-time workers and the fourth for those working part-time. In 2012, full-time workers were paid $13 per hour while part-time workers earned $9. Full-time employees at Hobby Lobby and its affiliate now earn nearly two times more than the national minimum wage set at $7.25 per hour.

"As a family-owned business, we want our employees to feel like they are part of a family," said Green. "This is one way we can show our appreciation for their work and make them feel like part of a team."

Last fall, Green whom Forbes calls the "largest evangelical benefactor in the world," told that publication that everything in his $3 billion empire belongs to God.

"If you have anything or if I have anything, it's because it's been given to us by our Creator," Green told Forbes. "So I have learned to say, 'Look, this is yours, God. It's all yours. I'm going to give it to you.' "

According to Forbes, Hobby Lobby is 100 percent family owned and on their list of America's 400 richest people, Green sits at No. 79 with an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion.

"I don't care if you're in business or out of business, God owns it," Green told Forbes. "How do I separate it? Well, it's God's in church and it's mine here? I have purpose in church, but I don't have purpose over here? You can't have a belief system on Sunday and not live it the other six days."

This year, Hobby Lobby plans on opening 33 additional stores creating 1,200 jobs across America. Stores will open in Maine and Connecticut in a few months.

On their website, the company notes loyal customers, fair appreciation for excellence in their employees and the pursuit of biblical values as factors behind their growth.

"The constant element throughout Hobby Lobby's growth is our loyal customers and our outstanding employees. The foundation of our business has been, and will continue to be strong values, and honoring the Lord in a manner consistent with Biblical principles," states the company.

Hobby lobby offers some 65,000 crafting and home decor products in its stores such as candles, scented products, art canvas and picture frames. All Hobby Lobby stores are closed on Sunday.

[GeronL]

How many positions were cut for this?

Probably very few full time positions left.

[Sacajaweau]

And Christian, too. I have a friend there. These people aren’t overburdened (stressed) like in other stores. It’s a nice human pace.

[americas.best.days...]

Seems like a great place for FReepers to go for gift or
Christmas shopping to support them. This is a nice change
from finding out about companies that work against us.

After shopping, a quick bite at Chik-fil-a!!

[azcap]

Interesting factoid about modern retail - Our town is getting a new Dick’s Sporting Goods store. The press info indicates that the new story will have 3 salaried employees, 3 FTE and 20 part time employees. I imagine a Hobby Lobby would be staffed similarly. I know a lot of folks from church/community involvement who work in retail and I can’t think of a one who is an actual FTE. Full time employment is not compatible with the Obama economy.

[RobertClark]

This is in line with the lower end of what we are having to pay some of the unskilled laborers that work on our gov’t contract. We are required, by law, to pay based on the wage determination for each position (union protection wages published by the Dept. of Labor). We are also required to pay a “health and welfare” stipend of $3.25 per hour ON TOP of the extremely high base hourly wages to compensate for not offering medical coverage to PT employees. It takes the base for general labor (unloading trucks with a dolly) to nearly $17.00 per hour.

And they wonder why every gov’t contract costs a fortune, and the economy is going to hell...

I’m a fan of Hobby Lobby though, and I’ll never look upon them with anything other than respect.

[SunkenCiv]

Well, *this* is obviously racist. /s

Thanks SeekAndFind.

[tbw2]

God bless them.

[WVKayaker]

Did anybody ever tell you that you sound totally ignorant when you post such crap? Just wondering???

You must not know much about much, as your constant ignorance is on display for all of the world to see! I see your comments on many FR threads, but few contain much besides knee-jerk or authoritarian drivel!

Hobby Lobby added jobs, not cut them! They also tithe (translated as gave 10% of their net (after-expenses) company income) to God. Maybe you could learn something by reading more before you post!

From the article: ... This year, Hobby Lobby plans on opening 33 additional stores creating 1,200 jobs across America. Stores will open in Maine and Connecticut in a few months....

[GeronL]

authoritarian?

lol