Friday, January 8, 2021 Frontline workers of certain large grocery and pharmacy retailers in Los Angeles County and other municipalities across the state may soon receive an additional $4.00 to $5.00 an hour in “hero pay” or “hazard pay” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Background Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted our communities. Low-income communities and communities of color have been hit particularly hard. Currently, the state is experiencing a record-breaking wave of COVID-19 cases. Grocery retailers that perform essential work have experienced an increase in outbreaks. Research suggests that employees with direct customer exposure are five times more likely to test positive for the virus than those without such exposure.