The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of thousands of Americans, particularly those who are deemed essential workers. It has put those who report to work as essential workers at a heightened risk of contacting the virus (the CDC has recommended that people stay home whenever possible to prevent its spread). Essential businesses e.g. Walmart, Kroger, Target etc, have temporarily raised the pay of their hourly workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Sadly, not every business deemed "essential" has employed this response to this pandemic, particularly Staples, Inc. As their fellow businesses strive to incentivize their hourly workers to continue to report to work in these hazardous conditions, Staples has done nothing of this sort for their hourly and salaried employees.

It is unfair that we, employees of Staples, Inc, are expected to continue to report to work without a increase in pay. It implies that the executives and shareholders of this company are more concerned with their profits/losses than with how their workers are affected during this pandemic. 

Increasing the hourly pay of all Staples employees would help ease the financial pressure that some of them are facing during this pandemic. Many Staples employees have had a reduction in hours in order to prevent the spread of the pandemic. This, however, puts some employees in a difficult position as they struggle to maintain their standard of living. 

What needs to happen in order to effect change is a temporary increase in hourly pay or a bonus pay for all Staples employees who are asked to report to work during this pandemic.