Supermarket chain Auchan announced on Sunday it will grant a €1,000 bonus to its employees in times of the crisis.

Auchan announced in an official statement on Sunday it will offer a €1,000 bonus to 65,000 employees in France as a way of acknowledging their extraordinary efforts during the coronavirus crisis.

The supermarket group says that it is thanks to the continuous effort of its employees working across stores, pick-up and delivery services that the chain has been able to remain open.

They also highlighted the fact additional safety measures to protect staff are in place in stores. Cashiers are protected by plexiglas, and hand sanitiser and gloves are available for staff. Opening hours have also been adjusted.

The possibility of granting a tax-free bonus of that sort was introduced following the yellow vest crisis in 2018-2019, and it was renewed in 2020 for companies that signed an agreement with its employees.

The agreement has also been simplified for SME's. Businesses have up until 30 June to transfer the tax-exempt bonus of up to €1,000.