LAKEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As companies
grow, it can be challenging to maintain the founding values of the
business amidst the outside pressure to conform to industry
standards, but Natural Grocers continues to keep its values intact
by making decisions based on its original founding principles.
"Commitment to employees is one of our 5 founding principles,"
said company Co-President Kemper
Isely. "In the early years when we had just a few stores my
mother, Margaret Isely, did
everything she could to make employees feel at home and cared for.
We want to continue that legacy even as we grow."
Natural Grocers' over 3,000 retail employees will most certainly
feel that commitment as they spend Thanksgiving Day with their friends and family.
Importantly, Natural Grocers employees who work a minimum of 30
hours per week will also receive 8 hours of holiday pay. With over
85% of Natural Grocers employees working 30 or more hours per week,
most workers will receive a full day's pay for the holiday.
Although some retailers open on Thanksgiving will provide a special holiday
increase or overtime rate, many do not offer special incentives to
employees required to work on the holiday. This means for the
nearly 5 million1 retail sales workers in the United States, the holidays are just
another work day.
"We want the people who work for us to know that every moment of
their time is meaningful, so we pride ourselves on doing more than
traditional retailers to showcase the genuine care and appreciation
we feel for our employees," said company Executive Vice President
Heather Isely. "Thanksgiving is a family holiday and an American
tradition, so we celebrate it in a way that's consistent with our
deeply rooted family values."
Natural Grocers will be open during its normal business hours on
Friday, November 25.
Natural Grocers' employee benefit offerings
- Competitive pay, including the exclusive Natural Grocers
Vitamin Bucks program, which provides employees an extra
$1 per hour worked of in-store
spending money.
- Birthday bonuses equal to 1 day's pay, which originated from
founder Margaret Isely's tradition
of celebrating the birthdays of all employees by preparing lunch
for them. Once the company became larger, her children, the current
executives of the company, implemented the policy of providing each
employee with a full day's pay on their birthday to say "thank you
for working with us."
- Company-wide store discounts and credits of up to 30% on all
Natural Grocers products, which provides employees substantial
savings on high quality groceries and supplements and helps them
retain more of the dollars they earn.
- Natural Grocers also offers comprehensive benefits packages to
the over 80% of its employees who are full time, including medical,
dental and vision insurance; flexible spending and health savings
accounts; short- and long-term disability and life insurance; a
401K savings plan; generous paid time off; and extensive free
nutrition education programs.
Natural Grocers store offerings
- Highest quality organic and natural groceries, dietary
supplements and body care products
- Always AffordableSM pricing
- Free science-based nutrition classes, health coaching, cooking
demos and more
- No artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives and
harmful trans-fats
- 100 percent USDA Certified Organic produce
- Strict meat standards – raised without antibiotics, growth
promoters or feed containing animal by-products
- Pasture-based dairy standard – dairy products that come
exclusively from confinement-free dairies
- Free range egg standard – eggs that are not only cage-free, but
are provided with sufficient space to move – both indoors and
outdoors – and exhibit their natural behaviors
- A Nutritional Health Coach (NHC) in every store
- Knowledgeable staff offering world-class customer service
- Support for local community organizations
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014). Occupational
Outlook Handbook: Retail Sales Workers. Retrieved from
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm
About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural
Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com)
is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural
groceries, body care 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 3,000 employees and operates 127 stores in 19 states.
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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.