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| Walmart, Uber and Others Tweak Sick-Leave Policies as Coronavirus Spreads | Walmart, Uber and Others Tweak Sick-Leave Policies as Coronavirus Spreads |
| (8 days later) | |
| Walmart, Uber and other major companies announced new policies this week to grant paid leave or other compensation to workers who contract the new coronavirus or are quarantined by order of the government or their companies. | Walmart, Uber and other major companies announced new policies this week to grant paid leave or other compensation to workers who contract the new coronavirus or are quarantined by order of the government or their companies. |
| The changes could help hourly and gig-economy workers in the service industry who do not normally receive paid time off, and who would bear an especially difficult burden of lost wages. But the policies may not go far enough to protect delivery people, store clerks, restaurant workers, taxi drivers and others whose public-facing and often low-paying jobs cannot be done remotely. | The changes could help hourly and gig-economy workers in the service industry who do not normally receive paid time off, and who would bear an especially difficult burden of lost wages. But the policies may not go far enough to protect delivery people, store clerks, restaurant workers, taxi drivers and others whose public-facing and often low-paying jobs cannot be done remotely. |
| Walmart, the largest private employer in the country with 1.5 million workers, said on Tuesday that employees who contract the virus or who are subject to mandatory quarantines would receive up to two weeks of pay, and that absences in that time would not “count against attendance.” | Walmart, the largest private employer in the country with 1.5 million workers, said on Tuesday that employees who contract the virus or who are subject to mandatory quarantines would receive up to two weeks of pay, and that absences in that time would not “count against attendance.” |
| Two weeks is generally the length of time that health experts recommend for quarantine or self-isolation. Workers who are infected and need more time to recover may be compensated for up to 26 weeks, the statement said. It added that workers who were not sick or quarantined, but who were uncomfortable reporting for work during the outbreak, would not be penalized. | Two weeks is generally the length of time that health experts recommend for quarantine or self-isolation. Workers who are infected and need more time to recover may be compensated for up to 26 weeks, the statement said. It added that workers who were not sick or quarantined, but who were uncomfortable reporting for work during the outbreak, would not be penalized. |
| Ride-hailing companies, whose drivers are generally classified as independent contractors and do not receive paid time off, offered few details about the compensation they promised to drivers affected by the coronavirus. | Ride-hailing companies, whose drivers are generally classified as independent contractors and do not receive paid time off, offered few details about the compensation they promised to drivers affected by the coronavirus. |
| Uber said that drivers or delivery people who learn they have Covid-19 or who are asked to self-isolate by a public health authority “will receive financial assistance for up to 14 days while their account is on hold.” Lyft said that it would “provide funds” to drivers who are infected or placed under a quarantine. | Uber said that drivers or delivery people who learn they have Covid-19 or who are asked to self-isolate by a public health authority “will receive financial assistance for up to 14 days while their account is on hold.” Lyft said that it would “provide funds” to drivers who are infected or placed under a quarantine. |
| The announcements came after calls from lawmakers and labor groups for companies to take action to ensure their workers’ health and safety — and after the first cases of coronavirus in workers for Walmart and Uber. (The Walmart employee worked at a store in Cynthia, Ky., and the company said she was recovering. The Uber driver, in New York City, was hospitalized.) | The announcements came after calls from lawmakers and labor groups for companies to take action to ensure their workers’ health and safety — and after the first cases of coronavirus in workers for Walmart and Uber. (The Walmart employee worked at a store in Cynthia, Ky., and the company said she was recovering. The Uber driver, in New York City, was hospitalized.) |
| Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and other chain restaurants, also announced this week that all hourly employees would receive permanent paid sick leave benefits. Sick leave will accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, the company said in an email. | Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and other chain restaurants, also announced this week that all hourly employees would receive permanent paid sick leave benefits. Sick leave will accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, the company said in an email. |
| The company had previously opposed sick leave for its workers, and the announcement followed an article by the journalist Judd Legum published on Monday. Rich Jeffers, a company spokesman, said the new policy had been in the works before the outbreak, but that it was expedited “given the current environment.” | The company had previously opposed sick leave for its workers, and the announcement followed an article by the journalist Judd Legum published on Monday. Rich Jeffers, a company spokesman, said the new policy had been in the works before the outbreak, but that it was expedited “given the current environment.” |
| Instacart, which delivers groceries and other household items to customers through an app, announced this week that it was expanding its accrued-sick-time policy to all its part-time employees in North America. The company had previously offered sick pay in only some states. Instacart said it would also provide up to 14 days of pay to employees with diagnosed cases of Covid-19 or who are placed in quarantine. | Instacart, which delivers groceries and other household items to customers through an app, announced this week that it was expanding its accrued-sick-time policy to all its part-time employees in North America. The company had previously offered sick pay in only some states. Instacart said it would also provide up to 14 days of pay to employees with diagnosed cases of Covid-19 or who are placed in quarantine. |
| Service industry workers, of course, are making it possible for other Americans to stock up on groceries or get deliveries as they stay home. Health experts say that preventing people who contract the virus from continuing to work is key to preventing widespread community transmission. | Service industry workers, of course, are making it possible for other Americans to stock up on groceries or get deliveries as they stay home. Health experts say that preventing people who contract the virus from continuing to work is key to preventing widespread community transmission. |
| “Low-wage, hourly workers are already at greater risk of poor health because of their pre-existing condition of economic instability,” said Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health. | “Low-wage, hourly workers are already at greater risk of poor health because of their pre-existing condition of economic instability,” said Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health. |
| Updated June 30, 2020 | |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| “It is essential that our response to Covid-19 keeps a focus on the health of marginalized, vulnerable populations,” he continued. “By providing them with the necessary resources to be well — paid sick leave, etc. — we are not just supporting their health, we are supporting the health of whole populations.” | “It is essential that our response to Covid-19 keeps a focus on the health of marginalized, vulnerable populations,” he continued. “By providing them with the necessary resources to be well — paid sick leave, etc. — we are not just supporting their health, we are supporting the health of whole populations.” |
| The specter of the new coronavirus has also spurred a renewed push for federally mandated paid sick leave. The United States is an outlier among rich countries for not requiring employers to provide it. | The specter of the new coronavirus has also spurred a renewed push for federally mandated paid sick leave. The United States is an outlier among rich countries for not requiring employers to provide it. |
| Democrats are promoting a new version of a bill that has been stalled in Congress for years — and trying to expand it to add 14 days of immediately accessible paid sick leave in the case of a public health emergency. Federal officials have also discussed a payroll tax cut and small business loans. | Democrats are promoting a new version of a bill that has been stalled in Congress for years — and trying to expand it to add 14 days of immediately accessible paid sick leave in the case of a public health emergency. Federal officials have also discussed a payroll tax cut and small business loans. |
| The A.F.L.-C.I.O. called on officials to act immediately to shore up resources for workers during the outbreak, including paid sick leave. | The A.F.L.-C.I.O. called on officials to act immediately to shore up resources for workers during the outbreak, including paid sick leave. |
| “This is a public health crisis that demands strong and decisive action,” said William Samuel, the federation’s director of government affairs. | “This is a public health crisis that demands strong and decisive action,” said William Samuel, the federation’s director of government affairs. |