Amid inflation and a labor market squeeze driving private and public employers to rev up their pay, Verizon announced it is increasing its minimum wage and offering sign-on bonuses for customer service employees.

Prospective customer service employees in the Wilmington area are eligible to receive a $2,500 sign-on bonus for new retail specialists and $3,500 for assistant managers at “some” stores, according to a company spokesperson. Companywide, the hourly minimum wage is now $20 for customer service roles, Verizon announced Monday. 

Retail and inside sales employees could make $20 an hour when targeted commissions are met. Bilingual employees and assistant managers who work holidays and Sundays will now be eligible for premium pay differentials, per a company press release. 

“These changes are the direct result of employee feedback and will help us remain an attractive employer in this competitive environment,” said Krista Bourne, chief operating officer for Verizon Consumer Group.

Verizon divested its Wilmington call center in a $16.5-million deal earlier this year. The company opened the center in 2004 and closed it amid a companywide move to shutter call centers during the pandemic, shifting this workforce to permanent remote work. ​