I’ve been an REI member since the 80’s and have always thought they were a really socially responsible organization, but this letter I received from the CEO last night seals it:
After a great deal of careful consideration, we are temporarily closing our 162 retail stores nationwide starting tomorrow, March 16, until March 27. I believe that is the right thing for our community. In fact, I believe it is our duty—to do all we can to help keep one another safe in this unprecedented moment.
That also means all employees from these stores will be paid during this temporary closure. And, even with our stores closed, we will be working hard to do everything we can to continue to serve our customers. All orders through REI.com will get free shipping while our stores are closed. Customers who have questions about gear and local outdoor activities that they’d normally ask in our stores can get answers through our digital community, REI Conversations. Co-op Journal will feature articles that help people find ways to get outside even during these challenging times.
Patagonia did the same thing a couple of days ago.
I get it that these are high-end consumer brands, either co-operatively or privately owned, but someone needs to set an example. Good for them. Please share other examples, if you have them, in the comments.
germy
narya
I would love for a list of these places that did the right thing–closed down, paid employees–so that I can support them.
Dorothy A. Winsor
This is small potatoes compared to a chain shutting down, but my publisher has stopped shipping paperbacks for the duration and is encouraging people to switch to ebooks.
germy
Gin & Tonic
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Maybe they could take a really revolutionary step and charge less for e-books than for physical books.
NotMax
Never heard of them.
Aimai
My fucking health care company is still trying to figure out a way to let us work remotely (to see patient data or to call patients at a distance) for therapy. They still think we should come to the office or use our sick/vacation time to not come. They are unable to respect the wirk we do with our therapy patients to make this happen. And they are unable (or were before I unilaterally called my patients and cancelled) to admit our building was not safe. I am home, applying for FMLA and if they can’t get their act together in two weeks Imma gonna quit.
Gin & Tonic
@germy: Pretty funny, except for the part about that sheep living in New Zealand, where there are no predators.
ADK Man
@narya: And if you can afford it, buy a gift certificate from the retailers doing the right thing.
LesGS
My younger daughter works for Lush Cosmetics (sells handmade soap, shampoo, etc.). As of today, they closed their stores, giving their employees two paid weeks off.
Gin & Tonic
@NotMax: Seattle-based recreational-equipment retailer (camping gear, bikes, kayaks, etc.) Organized as a co-operative, so members get a rebate each year based on their purchases.
Ohio Mom
[email protected]: I hear similar things from my friend the social worker who mainly counsels families with challenging kids. I always thought social work agencies would be thoughtful employers but her’s at least seems to channel Jack Welch.
Adam C
Vineyard Vines sent an email last night that they were shutting all retail locations until 3/27 and paying workers for any shifts that have been scheduled. It’s not perfect, but it’s something.
MattF
@Gin & Tonic: Camus’ La Peste is selling for $0.99 in the Apple book store.
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
@Gin & Tonic: Oh yeah? What about orcs?
Dorothy A. Winsor
@Gin & Tonic:
Ebooks = $3.99 or 3,49 pounds
Ppb = $14.99 or 9,99 pounds
I’m always shocked by ebooks costing over $10. I’m in favor of writers and publishers making money, but that’s extortion.
Gin & Tonic
In more of “doing the right thing” – ski area operator Vail Resorts (37 resorts in 15 states and 3 countries) has closed North American operations for at least a week to “reassess”, but says “All our scheduled employees, both seasonal and year-round, will be paid during this upcoming eight-day period, without needing to use any vacation or sick time. Their commitment to our company and guests during this uncertain time has been unwavering and I am personally grateful beyond words.”
What happens after this week is unknown, but for most North American ski resorts this is getting close to the end of their season, so I doubt they will re-open.
matryoshka
I became an REI member recently and signed up for one of their adventure trips that was supposed to occur in early April. When I signed up last November, they made sure I understood the cancellation policy–within 30 days of trip, no refund. When I called last week to tell them I could not, in good conscience, go ahead with the trip, I had a full refund within 10 minutes. If or when there is such a thing as recreational travel again, I am going with REI and a heart full of gratitude for their flexibility on this. They are a great company.
WaitingForMountainLife
Fabletics is closing their stores for two weeks and paying their employees. Online store is open. (This is Kate Hudson’s athletic wear company).
And I’m a long time lurker, first time poster.
lee
@matryoshka:
I’ve been a member of REI since the early 90’s. Great company to do business with.
JanieM
I joined REI in about 1970, but I haven’t shopped there for a long time. I gave up serious hiking years ago when my knees failed, and anyhow, I live a hop/skip/jump from the LL Bean mother planet, so when I need outdoor stuff I tend to just stop in there.
So I was surprised recently to get an REI dividend check for $8.95 in the mail. I hadn’t bought anything, so why was I getting the dividend? I started to wonder if REI had gone the way of dishonest/manipulative advertising, like practically ever other entity on earth, and I wondered hard enough to send a note through their website contact channel.
I got a message back almost immediately saying that my member # had been used at a store in Albuquerque last summer, maybe it was a friend or relative wanting to give me the rebate?
No, I said, that couldn’t have happened, since I would be hard put to it to locate my member # at this point, much less give it to someone else.
Okay, they said, probably a typo on the part of the clerk, but the $8.95 is still yours to spend.
Soprano2
Land’s End sent out an e-mail yesterday that they are doing this too.
Jager
If you ever get to Ventura, visit Patagonia, Yvon Chounard’s little blacksmith shop is preserved behind their retail location. The company began when he started selling his handmade pitons to his climber friends. A friend of my wife works in their marketing department as an ad designer. Great company as is, REI.
evap
My daughter works at a ski resort in Colorado and the governor has ordered a shutdown of all ski resorts for a month. Vail Resorts is going to continue to pay their full-time employees, much to the relief of my daughter. She may have to do some part-time work since she is in property management and there are things to be done even if the resort is shut, but she will be paid full-time wages regardless of how much she does.
Edited: Oops, G&T got in before I did.
Calouste
All the major tech companies AFAIK (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Facebook) have their core staff working from home, but still pay their support staff (cleaners, catering, etc.) while the offices are closed.
Marci Kesserich
Lululemon sent out essentially the same email, also paying their employees during the shutdown.
dlwchico
Sierra Nevada Brewery.
No One of Consequence
@Jager: Yves is the shit. So is PataGucci. I say this not as a dig, but as a term of endearment, and I have no other high end brands other than a single Taylor guitar.
Patagonia’s prices for used gear are worth it if you realize their fix/replace policy is awesome.
My $0.02.
Peace and please wash your hands,
NOoC
wmd
My employer told us to work from home if possible on March 6. They announced that hourly workers that could not work from home, but were not needed at offices due to low demand (cafeteria, etc) would be paid their usual wages.
This seems to be the case at least some other large tech companies in Silicon Valley.
JustRuss
Friend of mine worked at REI HQ in Seattle a few years ago. She does not have nice things to say about how they treated some of her coworkers who had health issues. Glad they’re stepping up now.
Gravie
Chef Jose Andres is converting many of his DC-area restaurants into community kitchens to help people who’ll be especially hard-hit by offering takeout food. Closing the restaurants per se for the duration, but guaranteeing pay and sick leave to his employees for at least two weeks.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/jose-andres-is-closing-his-dc-area-restaurants-setting-up-community-kitchens/2241776/?fbclid=IwAR0gkbtxCENexfdVPdSS3mBhK4-ZSULrTzVZuV1nkyoLtYE4KbKlAddm-8Q
J R in WV
@Gin & Tonic:
eBooks are always discounted from the price of a hardback. Stuff that would be cheesy paperback novels frequently are $1.98 or less. I love cheesy space opera, as long as the people are somewhat realistic, for burning up time.
slipz
LL Bean is closing all their stores as well. Company officials said L.L.Bean plans to continue pay and benefits for all year-round employees affected by the retail closure.