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Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

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Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#31
post #16
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hospitalization rate is hovering between 10% and 20% Edit: source https://covidtracking.com/data/

What's the hospitalization rate for starvation?

I didn't imply they should shut down. I just wanted to point out that the risk that the workers are taking is significantly higher if you take into account how likely they are to get seriously ill. Their protection should be prioritized.

Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#33
post #3

Here's what they're asking for: https://www.coworker.org/petitions/global-retail-worker-sick... -Guaranteed paid leave for all workers who isolate or self-quarantine instead of coming to work. -Reinstatement of health care coverage for part-time and seasonal workers. -Increased FSA funds to cover coronavirus testing and treatment for all team members, including part-time and seasonal. -Guaranteed hazard pay in the fo…

>Guaranteed paid leave for all workers who isolate or self-quarantine instead of coming to work. Does anyone have any idea how they're supposed to operate their business if they have to pay workers who don't work? I mean, they would have to hire replacement workers - who also don't need to come to work? Or are the replacement workers supposed to be second-class vs. the original workers?

Certainly Jeff Bezos could spare a billion or two.

Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#34
post #23
post #19

I don't understand. WF charges 2-3x as much as a "regular" grocery store and prides itself on "ethics" and "sustainability". Why are we even having this discussion? Why aren't those employees fairly compensated and protected?

Where do these “2-3x as much” figures come from? Their prices are not much different from Vons in my experience, they just sell a lot of premium items they you won’t find in your local vons - but for stuff you find in a regular supermarket - they charge around the same. And their 365 products sometimes are even cheaper than non organic alternatives

I also find many of the 365 products are made differently in some subtle ways vs. other store brands or big-label items. One example I came across recently was ginger ale; the 365 version has less carbonation and is sweetened with cane sugar (vs corn syrup), so it had a substantially different taste than the name brand (Seagram's) I picked up when the 365 brand wasn't available.

Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I do think high-risk employees should basically be allowed to stay home, though. Employees in states where a shelter in place order is in effect can stay home and collect unemployment backed by the federal government [1]. One might argue everyone is high risk, as you might have a risk factor you're not aware of, leading to an unexpected death. [2] [1] https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-stimulus-package...…

Are you guaranteed your job back if there's a stay in place order?

In the United States, no, but we're working on it. Please excuse the dust.

Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#36
post #3

Here's what they're asking for: https://www.coworker.org/petitions/global-retail-worker-sick... -Guaranteed paid leave for all workers who isolate or self-quarantine instead of coming to work. -Reinstatement of health care coverage for part-time and seasonal workers. -Increased FSA funds to cover coronavirus testing and treatment for all team members, including part-time and seasonal. -Guaranteed hazard pay in the fo…

>Guaranteed paid leave for all workers who isolate or self-quarantine instead of coming to work. Does anyone have any idea how they're supposed to operate their business if they have to pay workers who don't work? I mean, they would have to hire replacement workers - who also don't need to come to work? Or are the replacement workers supposed to be second-class vs. the original workers?

Its not going to work, if you pay people to not work, who is going to work then ? Money will become useless.

Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#37
post #3

Here's what they're asking for: https://www.coworker.org/petitions/global-retail-worker-sick... -Guaranteed paid leave for all workers who isolate or self-quarantine instead of coming to work. -Reinstatement of health care coverage for part-time and seasonal workers. -Increased FSA funds to cover coronavirus testing and treatment for all team members, including part-time and seasonal. -Guaranteed hazard pay in the fo…

> Guaranteed hazard pay in the form of double pay

With unemployment skyrocketing, it seems to me very unlikely that this would be granted. What is the purpose of putting it on the list?

Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#38
post #9
post #4

Wonder if grocery store workers will largely be forced to unionize and fall under similar terms as airline industry with regards to limitations on a strike. "Essential work"

Aren't many grocery chains already unionized? I believe Safeway, Raleys / Nob Hill, and Albertsons are, at least.

none of those exist in my part of the U.S. I haven't even heard of the last two

Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#39
post #37
post #3

Here's what they're asking for: https://www.coworker.org/petitions/global-retail-worker-sick... -Guaranteed paid leave for all workers who isolate or self-quarantine instead of coming to work. -Reinstatement of health care coverage for part-time and seasonal workers. -Increased FSA funds to cover coronavirus testing and treatment for all team members, including part-time and seasonal. -Guaranteed hazard pay in the fo…

> Guaranteed hazard pay in the form of double pay With unemployment skyrocketing, it seems to me very unlikely that this would be granted. What is the purpose of putting it on the list?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring

Re: Whole Foods employees are staging a nationwide 'sick-out'

#40
post #30
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

-Immediate shutdown of any location where a worker tests positive for COVID-19. This seems likely to shut down the majority of Whole Foods stores in short order. An unreasonable request, IMO. Grocery stores are genuinely essential to society and the death rate for I do think high-risk employees should basically be allowed to stay home, though.

If they're essential to society, do you support free medical care for all the employees who get sick during this time? Do you support paying for the ongoing costs of an employee that suffers the rest of their life due to complications or after effects from COVID-19?

I'm not the person you're responding to, but, yes. People who are sick should be cared for.
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