Sheetz to Invest in Higher Wages for Store Employees

ALTOONA, Pa. — As the wage debate wages on in city halls across the country, Sheetz Inc. is taking the issue into its own hands.

The convenience store retailer announced Tuesday that it is investing more than $15 million to raise the wages of store employees across the company, without cutting back on hours for full-time employees. 

"While other businesses in the industry might have to cut back on employee hours or new hires as a result of wage increases, Sheetz is working hard to provide full-time hours to as many employees as possible, providing them with an opportunity to earn more and secure health benefits," said Stephanie Doliveira, vice president of human resources at Sheetz. 

The investment furthers the retailer's commitment to offer employees a great place to work and a competitive total compensation package.

"As a family-owned business, we're committed to attracting, retaining and developing the best people. We believe that paying wages at the upper end of the retail scale is necessary to achieve that goal," Doliveira said. "In addition to paying competitive wages, we provide our employees with increases based upon tenure, access to health insurance, quarterly bonuses, college tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance and paid time off, among many other benefits, continuing to prove that Sheetz strives to be a great place to work."

In November, Sheetz was named by Great Places to Work and Fortune magazine as one of "The 20 Best Workplaces in Retail." Landing in the No. 8 spot, the report cited the company's generous bonus structure as a key factor in its recognition, as CSNews Online previously reported.

Altoona-based Sheetz operates more than 500 convenience stores in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina. The retailer employs more than 17,000 associates.