2021 brought about recruiting and retention challenges unlike Kum & Go had ever seen before. As the U.S. navigated the “Great Resignation,” our strategic priorities in Financial Wellness and Associate Wellbeing were put to the test when hiring and retaining top talent. Through intentional investment in wages, internal talent development, and a focus on overall wellbeing, Kum & Go ended the year increasing overall Associate engagement to 77% and saw a 6% increase in positive Associate responses to the question of Associate Benefits meeting their needs.
Kum & Go implemented its first quarterly incentive program for all Associates, meaning anyone who works in our stores is eligible for a quarterly bonus based on the performance of their store. This program lives up to our Total Rewards guiding principle of a Commitment to Performance, ensuring when our teams win, they win together.
Supporting our Associates overall mental, physical, and financial wellbeing was a priority in 2021 and will continue to be a CSR goal for the future. In 2021, Kum & Go put together a comprehensive plan to invest nearly $800k annually towards wellbeing programs for its Associates, launching as early as 2022.