I didn't know about some of these - makes me want to go
back to work at 70+yo!! No wonder so many of them are
there for SO long (some of the employees at our local
stores have been there since about 2000!!)
Costco — the beloved bulk retailer with affordable
household goods, prescription medications, a famous
hot-dog-and-soda combo, and plenty of ways to save
money shopping — attracts many new workers each year.
The stores are big and need many annual and seasonal
employees. Despite their size, Costco‘s employees rate
it highly on several job sites.
Anyone considering working at Costco should know what
it offers beyond the salary. Here are 11 of the best
benefits that the company provides its employees.
Above minimum wage salary. It pays to work at Costco.
As of April 2024, the average hourly wage for Costco
employees was $22.20. (I just read somewhere that it
was going to $30/hr for some). More specialized roles
at the optical center and pharmacy can make even more
money per hour.
Free memberships to the store. Yes, that is plural.
Although Costco employees don't get discounts on items
in each store, all employees get four free memberships,
one for themselves and three for people of their
choosing. Each membership is good for a year.
Customers must pay to become a member, and that starts
at $60 per year. While that's not extravagant when
stretched out over 365 days, it's still an upfront cost
before purchasing a single item.
Variety of health benefits. According to job search
site Zippia, eligible part- and full-time Costco
employees can receive health insurance benefits from
the company. The plan — which employees report is
affordable — includes dental and vision coverage.
(Note: D-i-l, who works there, said hers is like
$69.00/mo for her, hubby and daughter) Remember, there
are optometrists in Costco stores.
Seasonal work options. Although many of the perks go to
full-time employees, Costco also needs seasonal
employees each year. As demand picks up during the
holidays, more people are needed on the floor and in
the warehouse. The seasonal hiring period generally
starts in October and ends in January, with new
employees on a 90-day probationary period.
Extra pay on Sundays. Base pay at Costco is good, but
there are weekly chances for employees to make more.
Costco operates on a time-and-a-half pay structure on
Sundays. That means each hour an employee works they
earn 50% more. No matter how many hours an employee
works during the week, they earn more per hour when
working on a Sunday. So the employees you see there on
one of the busiest days of the week are earning extra.
Turkey time. Redditors report that all employees get a
free turkey in the holiday season, available from “mid-
November through Christmas,” according to an employee.
That starts the holiday shopping season off right.
Employees who don't need a turkey can also donate
theirs to charities.
Bonuses, bonuses. Reports on Indeed.com mention
employee bonuses of $2,000 or more semi-annually,
depending on the employee‘s department and experience
with the company. The annual bonuses may be even
higher, again depending on experience and department.
Retirement options. According to Zippia, Costco matches
50% of an employee's annual 401(k) contributions, with
a maximum company contribution of $500. And for
employees with 10 or more years of service, health
insurance benefits can carry over into retirement.
Promotion opportunities. Reports on Indeed and
Glassdoor mention an employee mentorship program and
opportunities to train and learn more significant roles
at Costco. While some departments, such as the optical
and pharmacy sections, require specialized education or
certification for specific roles, not every department
does. How long it takes to advance varies by position
and other factors, but employees can move up the ranks.
The company itself notes that 70% of its warehouse
managers started out as hourly employees.
Time off. Staff at Costco are eligible for paid time
off and paid sick leave, according to Zippia. Vacation
hours, to a certain extent, reportedly can roll over to
the next calendar year. For new mothers, there are
eight weeks of paid and two weeks of unpaid maternity
leave.
Holidays. Beyond the company's paid time off and sick
leave policies, Costco guarantees its staff eight paid
holidays off, including the big ones of Thanksgiving,
Christmas, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. There's also a
floating paid holiday to allow employees to observe a
day that’s meaningful to them (e.g., Juneteenth,
Indigenous Peoples Day, Veterans Day).
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