Maersk, the world's largest shipping company, said it will reward its employees with a $1,000 cash bonus each as it looks set to report record profits.
The total amount of the bonus for 80,000 of the company's employees worldwide is $80 million, according to an internal memo. The bonus will not be given to 400 senior managers.
"Our colleagues across the globe have risen beyond the call of duty to respond to our customers' needs," CEO Soren Skou said in the memo. He said that this has not been easy given the unknowns and disruptions that they had to deal with.
Maersk had its most profitable quarter in its history last month, more than quadrupling its third-quarter operating profits to $5.9 billion, as the global shipping and supply chain crisis led to record container freight rates.
The shipping company expects its fourth quarter to be equally profitable, with a gross profit between $6 billion to $7 billion, as shipping rates and consumer demand showed no signs of abating.
According to an analyst from Sydbank A/S, Maesk was set to report the biggest profit in Danish corporate history this year.
Maersk gave a $1,000 bonus to most of its employees last year, when it reported a $2.9 billion in profits.
