HomeGoods Is Paying Its Puerto Rican Employees, Even Though Stores Haven’t Reopened

It’s been over six weeks since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, and the island is still having major issues restoring power. That means (among many other things) businesses haven’t been able to reopen so that people can return to work. But employees at HomeGoods and its sister stores have one less thing to worry about.

The Boston Globe reported Thursday that TJX, parent company to TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, is sending Puerto Rican employees paychecks, even though stores have yet to reopen.

“We believe it is the right thing for us to do under these circumstances,” TJX spokeswoman Erika Tower told the newspaper. The company has 29 stores on the island, though how many of them remain closed and how many employees are affected was not disclosed. She did say that “from time to time under extreme circumstances,” TJX has done this in other areas affected by disasters.

The company is being praised on social media for their compassion.

One Facebook user, the father of a San Juan Marshalls employee, also shared that the stores were also helping people out with supplies.

For ways to help Puerto Rico, check out our roundup of relief efforts.