Walmart said in a Jan. 4 corporate memo to its workers that is is cutting paid leave in half for those who test positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus or who have quarantined themselves at home after exposure.
Previously, Walmart employees were given two weeks of paid leave, but the retailer will now offer only one week of paid leave instead of two as of March 31.
Walmart also reiterated that workers who become fully vaccinated can receive a $150 payment for doing so if they take the shots before Jan. 31.
The federal health agency recommended that people who have received a booster shot and are exposed to the virus do not need to quarantine if they wear well-fitting masks and do not show symptoms.
According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 75 percent of private industry workers have access to paid sick leave, with an average of eight days of leave.