With inflation eroding employee pay, one contractor in Nebraska is taking action.
All hourly employees of Hawkins Construction Company, a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated heavy civil contractor, will receive up to two $1,000 payments in addition to their regular wages in 2022 to combat rising household costs.
The inflation-protection fund payments are based on the company’s estimate that the average cost of basic household expenses was increasing by about $2,000 due to year-over-year inflation.
“We see rising costs across the supply chain and recognize this volatility is affecting our employees’ bottom lines as well,” said Chris Hawkins, president and CEO of Hawkins Construction. “Through this fund, we aim to cover the unavoidable gaps created by increased prices at the gas pump, grocery store and other bills.”
This fund is in addition to 2021 performance bonuses of $7.2 million distributed to field employees, support staff and project managers.
“Our goal is to provide a holistic compensation package that is meaningful to our 400-plus employees,” said Tim Mollner, HR coordinator at Hawkins Construction. “We reward merit and provide security to everyone on our team.”
