Melaleuca pays $3 million in longevity bonuses to 224 employees
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IDAHO FALLS — Over $3 million in bonuses were handed out to 224 Melaleuca employees during the company’s annual meeting Tuesday afternoon.
The Loyalty and Long-Term Contribution Bonuses were distributed to 165 employees in Idaho Falls or Rexburg, 56 from Knoxville, Tenn., two from Hawaii and one from Puerto Rico.
Melaleuca pays $5,000 on a five-year anniversary, $10,000 at 10 years, $15,000 at 15 years, $20,000 net (which is a total payment of $33,361) at 20 years, $25,000 at 25 years and $30,000 at 30 years.
“It’s so exciting to see all of my coworkers going across the stage and getting their checks,” said Senior Human Resources Manager Ronnette Gifford. She’s been at the company 25 years and received a $25,000 check.
Melaleuca has paid $26 million since instituting the program in 2007. The bonus is for every full- and part-time employee, from custodians to vice-presidents, and an employee’s length of service is the only qualification.
This year, three employees received $30,000 checks, nine employees received $25,000 checks, 17 received a $20,000 net check ($33,361 gross), 29 received $15,000 checks, 57 received 10,000 checks and 50 received $5,000 checks.
“It’s unique that we have the opportunity to work for somebody who really cares about its employees,” said Josh Kunz, a 20-year employee who been promoted around a dozen times over the years. “I’m so grateful for a company who supports me and supports their employees.”
CEO Frank VanderSloot created the Loyalty and Long-Term Contribution Bonus with the goal that every employee who spends their career with Melaleuca can have over $1 million in the bank when they retire.
“I think it’s great that we’re going through life together,” VanderSloot said. “It’s important to reward the people who have built Melaleuca. It’s our goal that all Melaleuca employees will retire as millionaires. Even the janitors will retire as millionaires if they simply follow our program.”
A 30-year employee would only need to take advantage of the company’s 401(k) matching program, invest their longevity bonuses and achieve a modest rate of return on that investment to retire with over a million dollars.
Gifford, Kunz and many other employees say they plan to grow old with Melaleuca and they’re looking forward to the future.
“We’re here to enhance lives and my life has definitely been enhanced by being here for 25 years and hopefully many, many more,” Gifford said.
Kunz added, “I don’t know very many employers that would make this sacrifice to their workers just because they show a little bit of hard work and dedication.”