‘You feel like you keep getting hit’: Massachusetts businesses that survived COVID feel ‘penalized’ by unemployment tax hike Updated 5:00 AM; Today 5:00 AM Pride Stores CEO Robert Bolduc, right, shows off some food selections his newest store on State Street in Springfield last August. (Peter Goonan / The Republican file photo) Facebook Share “And the sad thing is that we already pay to compete with this,” he said. During the pandemic, Pride has paid out almost $1 million in $5-an-hour hazard pay in addition to workers’ regular wages, Bolduc said. The convenience store chain has about about 500 employees and offers starting pay of $15 to $18 an hour.