GameStop closes its U.S. stores to customers who begin operations on Sunday, March 22, in response to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic and government orders to shut down unwanted businesses for sale. GameStop has said it will process incoming orders on a digital basis only; the company is moving to ecommerce delivery only, and will offer curbside Pickup to brick-and-mortar stores.
The move to restrict customers from entering GameStop stores comes after major criticism of the company's plan to keep stores open and concerns about employee well-being.
"This is an unprecedented time and each day brings new information about the CCIDID-19 epidemic," GameStop chief executive George Sherman said in a news release. “What was most important to us and continued to be in the well-being of our employees, customers and business partners. We stand firm in our compliance with the CDC-led security and local government directives of vendors in each of our communities. As millions of Americans look to GameStop to adapt to their new conditions of home-grown time, work, study and play, we have developed ways to help the safety and health of our employees, consumers and partners. We believe it is prudent to continue some safety measures while meeting this increased need through the use of the road. Therefore, stores that are still in operation will only provide when we are taken to the door or bring homework to protect our employees and customers. ”
GameStop said it would continue to pay workers who had spent their hours over the next two weeks.
"All U.S.Stopop employees in the U.S. have been assured that they do not have to work when they are uncomfortable and should stay home if they feel ill," GameStop said in a statement. The company said it would pay its employees "two more weeks in addition to their wages based on the hours worked in the last 10 weeks." GameStop also said it would reimburse all eligible American workers for “one-half month of benefits costs.”
