TLDR;
Corporate is not providing sick time to associates that SELF-QUARANTINE during this time. Stores that have closed, are not being paid for the lost time. Corporate does not care if you are sick or believe you are coming down with anything that resembles symptoms, and If any associate was to test positive, they would never inform the masses. We as associates must be willing to do our part; If you are sick or believe you are coming down with anything that resembles symptoms.
PLEASE BITE THE BULLET & USE YOUR ACCRUED SICK HOURS & CALL OUT. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially to those who have high-risk Family members & children.
Alright, It's time to inform the masses. As a Part-Time associate at a California Store...
(Who receives Sick Time Per Hours Worked...)*Keep in mind I live with 2 high-risk family members over the age of 70.
I started feeling the beginning of a cold about a week ago and here is how my personal experience during this time of crisis is going over.
Day 0/1, I Had felt absolutely awful this first day, and this cold came on like I had been hit by a truck. I believed that it was simply just a head cold and although I was meant to work a full shift on the 14th, I told my service lead the moment I clocked in I doubted I could finish my shift, I wound up working a 5 hour. I proceeded to head home for the night to get some rest.
Day 2, This cold actually put me out, I felt miserable and decided once again it was best to call out. Working under the assumption that it was within the policy to stay home with a fever over 100.3 (This much is true.) I received very little fight from my more understanding service lead and went about my recovery. I did my best to schedule a video visit, with my health provider who deemed I was not eligible for COVID-19 Testing, and that my symptoms were minor.
Day 3, Still not feeling the best, I decided to call out. Having given my store plenty of time to have someone cover me. My store Manager decided I had been out long enough, and demanded a sick note. (Understand, It's damn near impossible to get a sick note from any doctor/hospital right now.) I figured and had read our urgent communications about not needing them. It also clearly states in the "urgent communication" blast, that "If you have these symptoms and feel unwell, please contact your Manager and stay home."
I called HR, who reassured me that my store manager didn't need a doctors-note among all this chaos with COVID-19. Understanding that if I was showing symptoms to stay home. They also informed me that my sick time would be covered and that I had up to 10 days in order to fully recover. (THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE.) I was confident that the company was finally doing something right, and left it at that.
Day 4, I'm definitely back on my feet and feeling a hell of a lot better now that the fever has gone away and I'm finally able to get out of bed. I go to check my hours on the force it seems my sick time has been used up entirely. Surely this wasn't the case? Right? After being informed that my sick time was covered up to the 10 days right?
Nope. I called HR this morning, and they have politely informed me that, those 10 days of sick time only apply to the following "Any associate... who is quarantined by a federal, state, or local government agency, medical provider, or by Bed Bath & Beyond as part of a COVID-19 preventative measure, or as a result of a COVID-19 diagnosis..." On account of this, they will also be requiring a doctors-note in order to provide that sick time and accommodate that additional required time.
Having said that...
I went ahead and asked, about BBB's intention on closing any more locations, during this quarantine time, and was told that although they have closed some locations... They are following the situation closely and will inform any/all stores If/When there are mandated closures in each individual state. Locations that have closed are not being paid for the time lost. The locations that are remaining open, are doing very little to assist their employees and their families. There are many associates going without pay during this time and corporate doesn't give a damn.
We as associates must be willing to do our part. If you are sick or believe you are coming down with anything that resembles symptoms, CALL OUT. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially to those who have high-risk Family members & children.