Important Work on Pay and Scheduling

Jul 24, 2011

For several months, REI has been working to advance our existing market-leading retail pay and benefits offering even further. Today we shared information with all REI employees outlining the first in a series of investments.

Our CEO, Jerry Stritzke, first wrote about this work in a letter to employees in June. Today, REI senior vice president of retail Tim Spangler, outlined significant steps the co-op is making.

Highlights include:

  • Effective August 21, 25% of REI stores will receive pay investments ranging from 5% to 15%. The majority of these stores will receive an average investment of 10%. Every employee in these markets will receive an increase and increases vary by employee.
  • We are focusing first on urban areas where the rising cost of living has had a disproportionate impact: Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Portland, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. These employees will still be eligible for raises in 2017 as part of our normal compensation cycle.
  • These moves enhance an already-leading combination of pay and benefits in retail. By mid-2017, all REI employees will be paid clearly above the majority of retailers in their market.

As promised by our CEO in June, we will have another update in October that will deal specifically with scheduling. You can expect to hear more from us then on this topic.

About the REI Co-op

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 23 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 188 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.