As many businesses face staffing shortages due to COVID-19, one Christina Lake grocer celebrated his staffsa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淵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,sa国际传媒� 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 wasnsa国际传媒檛 simply paying a premium on their hard work sa国际传媒� the extra cash was a long-term investment in keeping them on board.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檇 been telling employees throughout the summer because I wanted them to stick around,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭hey all knew they were getting bonuses, but they were surprised at how big they were.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚 had tears in my eyes. I just couldnsa国际传媒檛 believe it,sa国际传媒� baker Lynda Fletcher told The Gazette, adding that shesa国际传媒檇 been at the store nine years.

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

sa国际传媒淚t makes you feel proud, being acknowledged for your hard work,sa国际传媒� 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 governmentsa国际传媒檚 Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

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

sa国际传媒淲hy not?sa国际传媒� Pesant said. sa国际传媒淭hese people work hard.sa国际传媒�

Fletcher said shesa国际传媒檒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 hesa国际传媒檒l use his share to fly to Victoria to see his grandchildren next week.

laurie.tritschler@grandforksgazette.ca
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