Retailer Walmart (WMT) is cutting the pandemic-related paid leave it provides to staff in half — from two weeks to one week — after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cut isolation requirements for asymptomatic people with COVID-19 and shortened the time that people need to quarantine.
The big-box retailer, which is the largest private employer in the U.S. and a major employer in Canada, announced the policy change in a memo that was sent to employees.
In the memo, Walmart said that through March 31 it will provide paid time off for employees who are mandated to quarantine or if they fail a health screening or test positive for COVID-19. It said employees who qualify will be paid for one week now instead of two.
Walmart also said employees qualify for the paid leave regardless of their vaccination status.
Walmart is one of the first companies to announce changes in the wake of the CDC’s revised guidance, and its move could prompt others to revise paid leave policies as well.
Last week, U.S. health officials said they would reduce the length of required isolation and quarantine to align with growing evidence that people are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.
The federal agency’s announcement came as many industries, including hospitals and airlines, struggled to keep operations going amid a surge in COVID-19 cases among staff.
In December, Walmart temporarily shut nearly 60 U.S. stores located in COVID-19 hotspots.
The company recently reinstated a mask requirement for all employees, regardless of vaccination status.
Starting December 19, Walmart announced all employees must wear masks at all company facilities until further notice.
