Over the last week, three Publix employees have tested positive for coronavirus, and today the Lakeland-grocer says they will start offering paid sick leave to associates who test positive for the virus.
Speaking with Creative Loafing Tamp Bay, Publix Director of Communication Maria Brous said employees at all locations who test positive for coronavirus will now get 14 days of paid sick leave to quarantine and recover from the illness.
Yesterday, Brous released a statement saying that Publix is also changing its policy to allow masks and gloves as an option to workers who aren’t normally required to wear them.
Typically, only full-time Publix employees receive paid sick leave. A recent New York Times article said that Publix, which reported higher earnings than Nike in 2018, has an estimated 89,000 employees without paid sick leave.
It's unclear if Publix had planned to implement the paid sick leave before the federal CARES Act was signed into law on March 17, which requires employers to setup an emergency paid leave benefits program.
This announcement comes after the company said they would also install plexiglass barriers at registers, customer service desks and pharmacies.
Last week, a petition was started calling for Publix employees to receive hazard pay.
RELATED: Publix employees are on the coronavirus frontlines, here’s what they’re saying
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This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2020.