Santa Clara County seeks temporary wage hike for front-line workers Large retailers, many reaping big profits, would be required to provide hazard pay under new ordinance Uploaded: Wed, Feb 3, 2021, 11:22 am 4 Time to read: about 3 minutes Costco and other large retailers that sell groceries could soon be required to provide hazard pay to employees. Photo by Magali Gauthier. Calling it dangerous work worthy of hazard pay during the pandemic, Santa Clara County's Board of Supervisors is looking to impose a temporary $5-per-hour wage increase for grocery and drugstore workers. Already in place in San Francisco and Oakland, the so-called "hero" pay ordinance in Santa Clara County would compel large chains to pay its essential, front-line workers higher wages for 180 days. Grocery stores, drugstores, fast food restaurants and large retailers that also sell groceries would be included.