Whether you are a job seeker looking for an hourly position or a business owner trying to structure an hourly employment strategy, you may be curious about which companies offer the best hourly jobs. For job seekers, knowing about the top 10 companies that have hourly employees can be a good way to plan a job search. For employers, this information might be even more important: as the gig economy grows and more people choose freelance or contract work over part-time or full-time jobs, employers need to step up their game to attract top talent.
Below, we have explored ten companies known for offering good hourly job opportunities—whether because of pay, benefits, work environment, flexibility, or all the above.1. Best Buy: Best Buy is widely regarded as a great place to work. The company’s average hourly wage is $12, according to PayScale.com. Benefits, including healthcare, are available to all employees who work 32 hours or more per week. Best Buy is well known for a program it calls “Gift of Time,” where employees can donate their time off to other employees who need it (perhaps due to illness or family issues). Finally, Best Buy’s employee discount was ranked by Buzzfeed News as the second best in the retail industry after American Apparel.
2. Home Depot: Before 2014, Home Depot offered healthcare benefits to part-timers. That coverage is no longer available, but Home Depot still offers more benefits to part-time workers than most companies, including dental and vision, life insurance, and critical illness protection. Other benefits for hourly workers may include stock options, tuition reimbursement, and employee discounts.
3. Costco: Costco has a corporate minimum wage of $14 per hour—one of the highest hourly rates of any brand. CEO Walter Jelinek says the average hourly wage of Costco employees is even higher at $22.50. Costco offers health benefits to employees who work 20 or more hours per week. Hourly workers can add dental coverage after a probationary employment period of 180 days.
4. Capital One: Flexibility is the name of the game at Capital One. The company gives many employees a lot of free reign in deciding their hours, setting up remote working arrangements, and even putting together job-sharing opportunities. This focus on flexibility, work-life balance, and remote work shows Capital One has been paying attention to the rise of the gig economy.
5. Starbucks: Starbucks hourly employees who work 20 hours or more each week receive a benefits package. This package, called “Your Special Blend,” is tailored to suit the employee’s priorities. Benefits may include comprehensive healthcare coverage (including medical, dental, and vision), 401(k) matching, stock options, tuition assistance, paid vacation, adoption assistance, and more.
6. Lowe’s: Where many employers offer benefits to hourly workers but require a probationary period for those benefits to kick in, Lowe’s offers its benefits package starting at the time of employment. All employees—even those just starting work—are eligible to enroll in the Lowe’s health insurance plan. Part-timers can also take advantage of other benefits, such as dental and vision coverage, short-term disability insurance, life insurance, 401(k) matching, and stock options. These benefits are available to part-timers no matter how many hours they work each week.
7. Whole Foods: Once hourly workers at Whole Foods have passed a certain probationary period of employment—usually 400 hours of service—they may be eligible for the company’s benefits program. The benefits package, available for employees who work 20 or more hours per week, includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage. Whole Foods also offers a robust employee discount of at least 20 percent.
8. UPS: UPS offers a full benefits plan to all employees, including hourly workers and seasonal workers—a notable point since UPS relies on many seasonal workers throughout the holidays. The benefits package includes medical coverage, vision and dental, and prescription drug insurance. UPS also offers a tuition reimbursement program.
9. Hilton: Like Capital One, Hilton is a business that seems to be tweaking its employment model to embrace the trends of the gig economy. While some hourly workers will have to work on-site in Hilton hotels, the company also offers reservation agent jobs on an hourly basis. These jobs can be done from anywhere, making Hilton an unexpectedly attractive work-from-home opportunity. At the same time, Hilton’s hourly workers can participate in the company’s job shadowing and advancement programs, good for building leadership skills and climbing the corporate ladder.
10. Amazon: On the one hand, Amazon has faced some controversy over working conditions in some parts of the country. On the other hand, Amazon currently has the highest corporate minimum wage of any major company. Amazon’s minimum wage, of $15 per hour, makes it a draw for many people seeking hourly jobs. Depending on the position, benefits may include healthcare, 401(k) matching, adoption assistance, and an annual employee discount.
If you are seeking an hourly job with one of these companies, be sure to research their policies more thoroughly and ask questions during the interview process. If you are an employer seeking hourly workers, keep these details in mind as you design a benefits package, pick a company-wide minimum wage, and decide how flexible your job offerings will be. Finally, don’t forget the background check! Background checks for hourly workers are just as important as they are for full-timers. Rely on a background check to help you choose reliable and effective talent for your hourly jobs.
Get monthly updates on background check news, industry trends, and changes in laws and regulations.
About Michael Klazema The author
Michael Klazema is the lead author and editor for Dallas-based backgroundchecks.com with a focus on human resource and employment screening developments
