New break rules at Whole Foods follow other unpopular changes
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The relationship between Whole Foods employees and the grocery chain’s top brass has been rocky during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is just another insult from corporate,” an anonymous Whole Foods employee told Vice. Past insults included dropping the $2 per hour hazard pay early in the pandemic (via Refinery 29), and reinstating a point system for disciplinary action for missing time, which put added pressure on employees who were afraid of contracting COVID-19 at work (via Business Insider).
CBS reports that at least 124 grocery workers have died from the disease, citing figures from the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which does not represent Whole Foods employees. In December, a Whole Foods employee sent a company-wide email now posted on the Whole Worker website, demanding the return of hazard pay, expanded health benefits and paid time off and other workplace improvements. The reaction on social media to the new break policy at Whole Foods has been harsh. “Very disgusted by this policy change,” @Sustain_VA posted to Twitter. “Especially during the pandemic, which is stressful and requires extra time for thorough hand washing after eating, toilet, etc.” Twitter user @JoeAyyyrias, who said he formerly worked at Whole Foods, said it can take a minute or two to get to the break room in the chain’s larger stores. “If I still worked there I would’ve quit as soon as this was announced,” he tweeted.
Whole Foods Just Made Its Employees Even Angrier. Here’s Why
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By Ralph Schwartz/Updated: Feb. 2, 2023 3:42 pm EST
The language in the new policy was reported by Vice: “We are standardizing our expectations for meal and rest periods across the company to maximize team member safety and productivity, and to best meet our operational needs.” In an email to CBS, Whole Foods said most workers across the U.S. benefit from the change. “This updated policy will provide the vast majority of team members with more break time throughout their work day,” Whole Foods said. But the new policy shortens breaks in Southern California, the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic region and the South.
New break rules at Whole Foods follow other unpopular changes
Rick Gershon/Getty Images
The relationship between Whole Foods employees and the grocery chain’s top brass has been rocky during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is just another insult from corporate,” an anonymous Whole Foods employee told Vice. Past insults included dropping the $2 per hour hazard pay early in the pandemic (via Refinery 29), and reinstating a point system for disciplinary action for missing time, which put added pressure on employees who were afraid of contracting COVID-19 at work (via Business Insider).
CBS reports that at least 124 grocery workers have died from the disease, citing figures from the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which does not represent Whole Foods employees. In December, a Whole Foods employee sent a company-wide email now posted on the Whole Worker website, demanding the return of hazard pay, expanded health benefits and paid time off and other workplace improvements. The reaction on social media to the new break policy at Whole Foods has been harsh. “Very disgusted by this policy change,” @Sustain_VA posted to Twitter. “Especially during the pandemic, which is stressful and requires extra time for thorough hand washing after eating, toilet, etc.” Twitter user @JoeAyyyrias, who said he formerly worked at Whole Foods, said it can take a minute or two to get to the break room in the chain’s larger stores. “If I still worked there I would’ve quit as soon as this was announced,” he tweeted.
CBS reports that at least 124 grocery workers have died from the disease, citing figures from the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which does not represent Whole Foods employees. In December, a Whole Foods employee sent a company-wide email now posted on the Whole Worker website, demanding the return of hazard pay, expanded health benefits and paid time off and other workplace improvements.
The reaction on social media to the new break policy at Whole Foods has been harsh. “Very disgusted by this policy change,” @Sustain_VA posted to Twitter. “Especially during the pandemic, which is stressful and requires extra time for thorough hand washing after eating, toilet, etc.” Twitter user @JoeAyyyrias, who said he formerly worked at Whole Foods, said it can take a minute or two to get to the break room in the chain’s larger stores. “If I still worked there I would’ve quit as soon as this was announced,” he tweeted.
