As many businesses face staffing shortages due to COVID-19, one Christina Lake grocer celebrated his staffB次元官网网址檚 hard work over the summer by handing out $30,000 in employee bonuses.

Jean-Marc Pesant and his son Pierce took over the Huckleberry Mountain Market, at 1720 Sandner Frontage Rd., at the beginning of June, kicking off a busy tourist season at the store that sells everything from baked bread and produce to liquor.

B次元官网网址淵ou go through a very busy season in Christina Lake in June, July and August and you deserve to be rewarded for completing that trek,B次元官网网址� Pesant, Sr. told The Gazette.

The bonuses went out after the Labour Day weekend when his roughly 25-person staff got cheques ranging between $100 and $2,000, depending on seniority and time served over the summer.

But Pesant said he wasnB次元官网网址檛 simply paying a premium on their hard work B次元官网网址� the extra cash was a long-term investment in keeping them on board.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 been telling employees throughout the summer because I wanted them to stick around,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey all knew they were getting bonuses, but they were surprised at how big they were.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 had tears in my eyes. I just couldnB次元官网网址檛 believe it,B次元官网网址� baker Lynda Fletcher told The Gazette, adding that sheB次元官网网址檇 been at the store nine years.

The same was true for meat cutter Mick Trodden, now in his 11th year.

B次元官网网址淚t makes you feel proud, being acknowledged for your hard work,B次元官网网址� he said.

The store is fully staffed as they head into the fall season, but Pesant said he had a very difficult time finding staff over the summer and earlier in the pandemic when people were receiving the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Unlike the CERB, Pesant said after-summer bonuses at Huckleberry Mountain Market will outlast the COVID-19 pandemic.

B次元官网网址淲hy not?B次元官网网址� Pesant said. B次元官网网址淭hese people work hard.B次元官网网址�

Fletcher said sheB次元官网网址檒l put her bonus toward an Alaska cruise next fall, when she hopes to set sail with her daughter and daughter-in-law. Trodden said heB次元官网网址檒l use his share to fly to Victoria to see his grandchildren next week.

laurie.tritschler@grandforksgazette.ca
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