Popular Louisiana Retailer Boosts Minimum Wage to $19.25 an Hour

In Louisiana, there is an employment conundrum. No matter where you look in the state you can find companies looking to hire. They're hiring in Shreveport, Monroe, Ruston, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, and Lake Charles. Meanwhile, our state also has thousands of workers who are looking for a job. You'd think we could get these two sides together and everybody would be happy and employed.

However, that's not the story, or at least that's not the story we are being told. If you ask employers many will tell you they can't find anyone to work. If you ask prospective employees they will tell you that companies aren't offering a living wage to compensate them for their time. If you boil it down, that's our real conundrum with employment.

One way employers are breaking through the employment stalemate is by offering higher wages. Currently, the Federal and Louisiana minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The last increase to the minimum wage was in 2009. Based on that statistic it's pretty easy to see why workers are wanting more than just an outdated minimum salary for working in today's economy.

One employer has recently announced a major boost in its compensation package for full-time employees. The increase would put the minimum wage for full-time workers at this retailer at nearly three times the federal and Louisiana minimum wage. As of October 1st full-time employees of Hobby Lobby will earn $19.25 per hour. This most recent increase marks the 13th minimum wage increase by the hobby and craft chain in the last 15 years.

Being employee-focused is nothing new for the Hobby Lobby brand. The chain closes its stores on Sundays and closes its doors nightly at 8 pm. The reason for the unique schedule, according to a company spokesperson, is to allow employees an equitable work/family balance in their lives.

The chain also offers medical, prescription, and dental plans as well as 401(k) with company match, vacation and sick pay, holiday pay, and time off as well. The company operates some 1,035 stores nationwide. There are 19 Hobby Lobby locations in Louisiana. The store also has 55 different job listings in Louisiana. Jobs range from managerial to retail associate, to stock room and stocking.

As far as the work environment goes, many responders on the website Indeed suggested that Hobby Lobby was great for experience but the chain did not offer the best work environment. One poster on Reddit claimed that individual stores often hired more people than needed and would randomly dismiss employees. Others pointed to store social policies that did not agree or align with their own as a reason for leaving the company.

We suggest you do your own research should you be interested in beginning a career with Hobby Lobby. Sometimes, it's not always about how much you get paid, right?