Whole Foods Employees Are Staging a Nationwide 'Sick-Out'

[left-of-center2012]

Source: Vice.com

Whole Foods employees are planning to strike on Tuesday to protest the lack of protections offered to workers during the coronavirus pandemic—the first national collective action led by workers at the company since it was founded in 1980.

On March 31, Whole Foods employees will call in sick to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home or self-quarantine during the crisis, free coronavirus testing for all employees, and hazard pay of double the current hourly wage for employees who show up to work during the pandemic.

The sick-out follows reports that Whole Foods workers at numerous stores across the country, including locations in New York City, Chicago, Louisiana, and California have tested positive for Covid-19. In each of these locations, the stores have remained open, leading some employees to charge that Whole Foods has failed to prioritize their safety during a period of record sales for the company.

In recent weeks, Whole Foods—a subsidiary of Amazon— has increased hourly pay for its workers by $2 an hour, offered to provide two weeks of paid sick leave to workers who test positive for Covid-19, and said it would not penalize workers for calling out sick.



Read more: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/5dmeka/whole-foods-employees-are-staging-a-nationwide-sick-out

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“The most obvious demand we have is for an increase in hazard pay. We’re asking for double pay,” a Whole Foods worker in Chicago and organizer of the “sick-out” who wished to remain anonymous because they feared retaliation.

[TexasTowelie]

1. Considering the number of newly available workers that are looking for a job

it doesn't seem like the wisest idea to be calling in "sick" to work as an indication of protest, particularly if working in a right-to-work state.

[customerserviceguy]

7. If we do have a lull between outbreaks

I would expect more hoarding to take place at that time. You can agree completely with the workers' requests and demands, but still be fearful about being able to obtain things necessary for daily living.

[duforsure]

2. This should be getting done on a national scale

For every person who handles our food , including in restaurants.Add to that regular temperature monitoring and documentation of it. Maybe temperature checking before customer's enter. Hope they get it, they deserve it. Each essential group need to be monitored and watched, and protected.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. I was just freaking out over the big billboard with the Publix ad seeking

applications for more employees.

[totodeinhere]

4. Multi billionaire Jeff Bezos could well afford to pay his employees much more.

And that also applies to Amazon warehouse workers. The virus has already shown up in their warehouses. That's one reason why I support Bernie's "no more billionaires" initiative.

[cstanleytech]

5. A fair compromise would be a hazard bonus of $100 a week

during the crisis and the company agrees to pay the employee $5,000 if they become infected and test positive and if they should end up in the hospital the company will pick up the tab.

If they die though the company will agree to pick up the tab as well as pay off a 200,000 cash death benefit to their spouse, child or dependent.

[OriginalGeek]

8. my company is giving us 20% premium pay

to come in if our jobs can't be done from home. We are a large not-for-profit in the healthcare industry and I'm in IT. I am not front-line staff but I need all my tools here to fix stuff here so I'm taking the money and washing my hands a lot.

We get the extra pay for 90 days and then they will re-evaluate. Managers and up are required to work from home so it's actually kind of nice here. I have my choice of premium parking spots now too.

[flibbitygiblets]

6. They also need PPE for Gods sake.

They definitely deserve hazard pay AND sick time even if they haven't tested positive. The latter requirement is mind-bogglingly short sighted.

And yes, they may lose their jobs for calling in sick. Personally if I worked in that job sector I'd be thrilled to be fired and get unemployment rather than risk mine and my families lives by working with the public.

They also need PPE for gods sake.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Whole Foods used to be a pretty good place to work

I worked there from 2005 to 2011, but it all went to shit when they sold out to Amazon. Most if my former coworkers aren't there anymore.