Hobby Lobby tells workers no paid sick leave during national crisis

https://www.ajc.com/news/report-hobby-lobby-tells-workers-paid-sick-leave-during-national-crisis/dCh3HmqGzj4wGwhinYmu3N/?fbclid=IwAR3FwFTWLRv0JWSxsKNuqtVZypx1q0u01B1I8uZErzMqHcOZ3-7uSKITnTk

By ArLuther Lee, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mar. 24, 2020

Hobby Lobby, one of the few chain retailers to remain open in states where the coronavirus outbreak has not closed non-essential business, is refusing paid sick leave for its employees amid the national economic crisis, according to Business Insider, citing an internal memo issued by the company’s executive front office.

The communication to staff came days after the arts-and-crafts company’s founder David Green sent a letter to reassure employees, saying God “will guide us through this storm.”

Randy Betts, the vice president of store operations for Hobby Lobby, wrote March 23 that the company “is going to make every effort to continue working the employees,” Business Insider reported. Betts stated in the memo that sick workers would either need to exhaust all paid time off and vacation time, or take an “unpaid leave of absence until further notice,” according to Business Insider.

•••••

The company’s website assures customers that it is safe to keep shopping, and that it’s taking measures such as “enhanced cleaning” to prevent any spread of the virus at its stores.

•••••

The Business Insider report quoted one of the store’s district managers, who said in an email that he felt “very anxious about this whole situation.”

“Our management has doubled down on the work stance, and the district manager has said that our stores will remain open until the National Guard comes in and physically shuts the buildings down,” the employee wrote on condition of anonymity, Business Insider reported.

•••••

CBS News reported the chain had closed some locations around the country to adhere to legally required closures, but many remain open for business.

Green’s letter to employees dated March 19 said his wife, Barbara, had received a message from God telling the chain to stay open.

•••••