Best Buy to furlough about 51,000 employees as its stores remain closed to customers

Best Buy will furlough about 51,000 employees starting Sunday, the company said in a news release.

The retailer’s stores have been closed across the country since March 22, but it has continued to pay its employees and offer curbside pickup. It also suspended all in-home delivery, installation and repairs.

Starting Sunday, Best Buy said it will furlough nearly all of its part-time store employees and some of its full-time store employees in the U.S. About 82% of its full-time store employees will continue to be paid.

Employees who are furloughed will continue to have health benefits and the company will cover the cost for at least three months, the company said in a news release.

Best Buy joins a growing number of retailers who have furloughed store employees during the coronavirus pandemic. The company said it’s continued to have strong sales, though, even as stores remain closed to customers. In a news release, Barry said the company has retained about 70% of its sales compared to last year. She said online sales in the U.S. are up more than 250%, and about half of those sales are picked up at its stores.

In addition to the furloughs, Best Buy’s top executives, including its CEO, will take pay cuts. CEO Corie Barry will receive half her salary, and company executives who report directly to Barry will take a 20% pay cut to their base salary through at least September 1. The company’s board of directors will be paid half of their cash retainer fees during the same period.

This story is developing and will be updated.