Rouses announces bonuses, Easter closings

Posted

THIBODAUX, Louisiana — In this time of uncertainty, one local grocery store chain is providing a boost for its employees who are on the front lines in the day to day service to their communities.

In a press release issued Wednesday, April 1 on rouses.com, Donny Rouse, CEO of Rouses Markets, announced that the company is paying April bonuses to thousands of hourly store employees as a thank you for working tirelessly to serve the needs of its customers. The company is also accelerating scheduled quarterly bonuses for store management and employees who oversee store departments.

“I have never been more proud of our team than I am today,” Rouse said. “They have been absolutely remarkable in taking care of our customers during an incredible time of need.”

Kenneth Jones is regional director of operations for Rouses in Alabama, which includes 800 employees in eight stores covering Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Locally Rouses has locations at 3075 U.S. 98 in Daphne, 1545 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores; 25405 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach; and 6729 Spanish Fort Blvd., Spanish Fort. Rouses also has two locations in Mobile, one in Theodore and one in Saraland in Mobile County.

“All of our employees are very excited and we are proud to be a part of Rouses’ commitment to serving our communities during this time,” Jones said. “It’s a great thing that Rouses is doing for its employees, giving them an extra paid holiday for Easter and the corporate bonuses being handed down to our employees.

“It’s just a blessing to be a part of such a great company. I’m just proud to be a part of this team and proud of all of the employees involved with this team.”

Increasing team member compensation is just one way Rouses Markets is rewarding and recognizing its 7,000 team members for all of their hard work, according to the release. The company has been providing store employees meals during their breaks since the outbreak began.

Rouses Markets is also giving team members an additional paid holiday this year — and much-deserved break — on Easter Sunday. “We want everyone to have the full day to spend time with family,” said Rouse.

Shoppers will notice that Rouses Markets has also increased protections to support team members who work in their stores. In addition to rigorous cleaning routines already in place, to be extra cautious, the company is in the process of installing Plexiglass partitions at checkout counters. There are already floor markers at the checkout lanes indicating how far apart to stand maintain safe distances, and they’ve asked their cashiers to sanitize after each customer transaction. The Plexiglass partitions add yet another level of protection.

“We know what an essential role our team members play during this pandemic, and we are doing everything we can to keep them — and you — safe,” said Rouse.

Rouses Markets is also providing all team members, and their immediate family members, free access to Ochsner Anywhere Care, a telehealth program, regardless of whether or not they have health insurance. Team members can connect to a licensed healthcare provider to get a diagnosis and treatment plan or see a licensed therapist face-to-face without ever having to leave their home. Rouses Markets is extending the service to all 7,000 team members through the end of May. The company will be providing this service free of charge to team members, so there are no charges or co-payments for telemedicine, urgent care, physician visits or therapy.

The late Anthony J. Rouse, Sr., founded Rouses Markets in 1960. Donny Rouse, CEO, is the third generation of the family to lead the family owned chain, which is one of the largest independents in the country.

Rouses Markets has 64 stores in Louisiana, along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Lower Alabama and employs over 7,000 team members. It has consistently been voted Best Supermarket and Best Place to Work.