This is the way to do it, corporate America. We are all watching for the helpers in these times.

[kpete]

To Our Taco Bell Fans,

Like most of you, I’ve been reading the news about the spread of coronavirus and I am convinced that Taco Bell, our franchisees and team members have an obligation to do something to help stop this from spreading. It’s the right thing to do, but outside of increased cleaning in the restaurants like we’ve been doing, how can we make a larger impact?

As regions of the U.S. begin to mandate public closures and self-quarantine, we are equipping our restaurants to serve our guests via drive-thru and delivery only where necessary. Should we need to temporarily close our dining rooms, we would be limiting millions of guest interactions and further enabling social distancing. We are going to redefine what it means to be a social brand during this coronavirus pandemic, while at the same time keeping our team members safe, and continuing to provide our fans with the delicious Taco Bell food they love.

We aim to be the safest place to eat AND the safest place to work. Our 7,200 managers are well-trained and prepared, and we’re going back to them to revisit our existing industry-leading training and operating procedures. Their personal well-being, safe food preparation, restaurant cleanliness and illness policies are our top priorities and are best practices from our operators from around the globe. 

Because our people are the heart of our organization, and we understand the impact these actions can have, we’re amending our sick policy at our company-owned U.S. restaurants to better accommodate our teams while ensuring no one works who is sick. We’ll be paying employees who are required to stay at home, or who work at a restaurant that is closed, for their scheduled or regularly scheduled hours during their time away from work. We’re actively working with our franchise partners to encourage a similar approach.

Our purpose—to feed people’s lives with unexpected good—guides us in times like these, and we are thankful for your support. You can count on us to keep you informed as new information becomes available.

Mark King
CEO, Taco Bell Corp.

https://www.tacobell.com/news/a-letter-to-our-fans-regarding-the-coronavirus?selectedTag=&selectYear=2020

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Leghorn21]

1. YEAH BABY

That’s how ya do it

[Hoyt]

2. Many are doing similar. While we obviously need enhanced mandatory leave, they deserve credit

for doing something.

The real test will be if more leave is required.

[volstork]

3. I haven't eaten there since college,

but I sure as hell will go there now. Do they have meatless nachos?

[Delphinus]

4. My husband and I

are vegetarians - the seven-layer burrito is quite good.

And it seems I heard recently they were adding real vegetarian menu options.

[volstork]

7. Good to know--

Thanks!

[Ms. Toad]

5. My daughter just started a new job at Starbucks (after EarthFare went bankrupt)

Their policy is similar.

This just in: The new coronavirus outbreak is officially a catastrophe. How do we know? Starbucks is now offering workers paid leave called catastrophe pay. That sounds bad! The benefit is aimed at allowing employees to self-quarantine at home for 14 days if they’ve been exposed to COVID-19, or are symptomatic, or need to care for loved ones.

“You should never have to choose between work and taking care of yourself,” wrote Rossann Williams, president of U.S. company-operated business and Canada, in a letter to all employees this morning.

Starbucks has long offered catastrophe pay for incidents such as flooded stores. This benefit is an expansion specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also allows high-risk employees to stay home, such as employees over age 60, those with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women. At the end of 14 days, employees can switch to vacation pay, sick pay, or personal time off as needed. A vague clause leaves open the possibility of extended catastrophe pay: “If partners are still unable to return to work, additional pay replacement may be made up to 26 weeks.”

[CaptYossarian]

6. That's very responsible of them.

How are they cleaning the money between transactions?

[Volaris]

11. Same way everybody cleans their dirty money now: gives it to russia and it goes to POTUS.

[Hekate]

8. Kick

[pecosbob]

9. When will corporations start closing stores to prevent further transmission?

How many employees will have to become sick before they shut down? I have to roll dice with the devil when I go into work in a few hours...

[Karadeniz]

10. I hope everyone gets on board.

[MLAA]

12. Leadership

More leadership from Taco Bell than impotus. Go figure.