Best Buy announced Wednesday it will furlough about 51,000 hourly employees starting Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said those workers will still have health benefits at no cost for a minimum of three months.
The retailer says online sales in the U.S. are up over 250 percent. But Best Buy stores have been closed to customers since March 22 and they've been forced to offer curbside pickup. About 50 percent of sales are from curbside. The company has also suspended all in-home delivery, installation and repairs.
The company's CEO, board members and company executives reporting directly to the CEO will take pay cuts through at least September 1.
Best Buy is the latest company to furlough workers due to the pandemic, joining Disney World, Dick's Sporting Goods and Macy's.
