Does Rite Aid Pay Weekly In 2024?
Getting paid is most workers‘ chief concern when starting a new job. Whether you‘re paid weekly, biweekly or monthly drastically impacts your ability to cover expenses, especially for hourly employees living paycheck to paycheck.
According to a Gusto survey, over 70% of employees prefer weekly payment cycles over longer periods. Short cycles allow better budgeting and financial planning.
Unfortunately, Rite Aid does NOT offer weekly payroll in 2024 despite this preference. The retail pharmacy chain sticks to a rigid biweekly pay schedule for all positions, corporate or in-store.
While biweekly cycles are industry standard, improving cash flow for their nearly 100K employees could reduce financial strain and boost retention. Below I‘ll share insights into Rite Aid‘s exact paydays, pay rates, and controversies sources report around their compensation policies.
When Does Rite Aid Pay Employees in 2024
Rite Aid employees are paid every other week on Thursdays or Fridays, depending on location and role. Paydays are for hours worked in the current, not previous pay period.
For example, if you start working on January 1st, 2023, your first paycheck would come on January 12th or 13th depending on the pay cycle date for your store.
While payment cycles only twice a month can limit flexibility, Rite Aid does pay new staff right away instead of holding first checks.
Hourly vs Salaried Employee Payment Dates
Both hourly and managerial salaries at Rite Aid are paid on the biweekly schedule. However, exact paydays depend on employee level:
- Hourly retail employees – Tend to be paid weekly on Fridays
- Salaried managers – Often paid biweekly on Thursdays
Pharmacist salaries likely follow the Thursday schedule as well.
These nuances mean syncing pay schedules if you live with a Rite Aid employee. But bank account debits and credit card due dates won‘t vary.
Rite Aid Hourly Wages In 2024
Rite Aid pay rates are mediocre according to Indeed data, especially for cashiers and entry-level staff.
As of January 2023:
- Average Rite Aid cashier pay: $11.01/hour
- Average Rite Aid shift manager pay: $14.66/hour
- Average Rite Aid pharmacy technician pay: $15.95/hour
Higher salaries like pharmacists and upper management fare better for compensation.
For example, Rite Aid Pharmacy Managers earn $125,432 a year on average. The highest salaries at Rite Aid reach $159,762 for Pharmacy District Managers.
Biweekly Pay & Budgeting
Getting paid every other week instead of weekly can seriously impact hourly employees. Expenses pile up rapidly even over 14 days.
Without accurate budgeting, workers must repeatedly come up short or rely on credit cards between pay checks. This leads to vicious cycles of debt that reduce financial security.
Does Rite Aid Hold First Paychecks?
Luckily, Rite Aid does NOT withhold first paychecks from new hires. You get paid on the first upcoming check date after starting rather than waiting an entire cycle.
For example, if the store pays employees each Friday and you start work on Tuesday, you‘d be paid just over a week later on that Friday.
This avoids delaying compensation by up to three weeks like some retailers. Just keep the biweekly cycles in mind for planning once trained.
Rite Aid Holiday Pay Controversy
Along with only biweekly payroll, Rite Aid has faced criticism over lacking holiday pay for retail workers.
Per a Guardian expose, Rite Aid ranked among the worst companies for holiday policies – paying neither extra wages nor guaranteed days off for holidays. For example during Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Considering many customers shop holidays for last-minute items, this can be upsetting and seem unfair to hourly staff who cannot opt out.
The policy contrasts sharply with competitors like Walgreens or CVS that ensure 1.5x holiday pay for retail pharmacists and technicians.
If you‘ll rely on holiday hours, weigh options before accepting employment. Holiday pay can represent 5% or more of annual income.
Rite Aid sticks to biweekly payroll cycles for all employees including hourly retail workers. While you get your first pay check right away, tight budgets between longer pay periods can challenge staff.
Lacking holiday pay alsoincenses staff who must work low wages during holidays or forgo that income completely. With below-average compensation across most non-salaried roles, evaluating other pharmacy retailers seems prudent before applying.
What‘s your take? Do you rely on weekly pay or extra holiday earnings in retail? How big of an impact do these policies have on your budget? Let me know in the comments!
