Our Commitment to Staff
Valuing Our Team
At New Seasons Market, our staff are the heart of our business, which is why we are committed to fostering a supportive and rewarding work environment. We take pride in offering a comprehensive array of benefits to ensure their well-being and satisfaction.
-
Health and Wellness
All staff scheduled for 24 hours or more each week (representing more than 94% of staff) are eligible for a comprehensive healthcare package, also supporting domestic partners and dependents. -
Wages and Growth
Non-managerial staff earn an average wage of $21.64/hour with regular, automatic wage increases, as well as benefits valued at $30.59/hour. -
Flexibility and Balance
We advocate for work-life balance by providing paid leave that includes personal time off, jury duty, volunteer hours and holidays. -
Family-First
Our family support extends to paid parental leave, adoption assistance, childcare tuition discounts, pre-tax health and flexible savings accounts, company paid life insurance and bereavement leave. -
Future Development
New Seasons Market invests in our staff’s future with 401(k) matching, educational scholarships and career advancement programs to fuel ongoing professional development. -
Exclusive Employee Benefits
Our staff receive a 30% in-store discount, 50% off TriMet passes, reduced gym memberships, holiday meals, length of service awards and much more.
An Open Letter to New Seasons Market Customers
We deeply appreciate the care and concern our customers continuously express for our incredible staff—they are the heart of everything we do. By choosing New Seasons Market, you not only support our investment in our team, but you also help champion local nonprofit partners, regional producers and sustainable business practices. This cycle is key to helping us all grow and thrive together. You may have questions about our commitment to staff and our ongoing conversations with NSLU, the independent union representing some staff at 11 of our 22 stores. We’d like to provide some clarity on these matters to ensure you have the information you need:
What does New Seasons Market’s staff compensation and benefits look like?
For 25 years, New Seasons Market has offered industry-leading wages and benefits, including many perks found nowhere else in the grocery industry… and more than 94 percent of our staff qualify for our full benefits package, including robust healthcare and flexible paid time off, as well as guaranteed and regular wage increases for hourly staff. If you are interested in learning more about our comprehensive staff benefits, visit here.
Additionally, starting July 1, we’re raising wages for many staff across our stores—a move that reflects upcoming changes to Portland’s minimum wage, but also our values as a progressive employer and B Corp-certified business. With this update, non-management staff at non-union locations will earn an average of $21.64 per hour, with an additional $8.95 per hour in benefits—underscoring our commitment to providing compensation and support that goes beyond industry norms.
While NSLU-represented staff are not currently included in this wage increase, New Seasons Market has proposed similar adjustments through the collective bargaining process. These increases were part of the comprehensive package presented to NSLU on March 18 of this year and remain on the table as negotiations continue.
Can you share an update in your conversations with NSLU?
New Seasons Market continues to bargain in good faith with NSLU, meeting at all mutually agreed-upon times and engaging fully with the union’s topics and proposals. To date, we’ve reached 16 tentative agreements, including the attendance policy (finalized May 8).
We remain committed to finalizing a contract that supports long-term business sustainability and brings real value to represented staff—who are vital to the success of our stores and communities. Our proposal reflects some of the highest wages in the regional grocery industry, a deep commitment to comprehensive benefits and investments that go beyond compensation to reinforce work-life balance, well-being and equity.
To advance discussions, we have continued to propose a neutral, third-party, federal mediation service, which we believe will bring us closer to an agreement. Since Dec 3, 2024, NSLU has declined to participate in mediation.
Our current proposal includes:
- An immediate wage increase upon ratification, with up to 12 increases over the life of a 4-year contract
- A new average hourly wage of $21.64 for non-management staff (up from $20.79)
- No changes to medical coverage, preserving the same industry-leading, comprehensive benefits currently available to all staff
- 6 paid holidays and double pay for any holiday hours worked
- A 30% staff discount and access to free groceries—a perk offered nowhere else in the industry
- An additional paid day off to support rest and balance
New Seasons Market respects the invaluable voices of our staff and our customers, and our goal has always been to offer a gathering space that reflects our unwavering values and where all feel welcome. Thank you for your continued support and understanding. Please reach out to us if you’d like to learn more or share additional feedback!
New Seasons Market Leadership Team