Research brief developed in partnership with United For Respect reveals that Walmart could have prevented at least 7,618 COVID-19 cases and saved 133 lives last year with an adequate paid sick time policy — and urges Walmart to institute an expanded and universally accessible paid leave policy for all employees.
April 28, 2021
Research brief developed in partnership with United For Respect reveals that Walmart could have prevented at least 7,618 COVID-19 cases and saved 133 lives last year with an adequate paid sick time policy — and urges Walmart to institute an expanded and universally accessible paid leave policy for all employees.
Research brief developed in partnership with United For Respect reveals that Walmart could have prevented at least 7,618 COVID-19 cases and saved 133 lives last year with an adequate paid sick time policy — and urges Walmart to institute an expanded and universally accessible paid leave policy for all employees.
No one should have to choose between going in to work while sick or risking wage loss and retaliation. But throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many Walmart employees – essential workers lacking an accessible or adequate paid sick time policy from their employer – have been forced to make that choice.
This research brief, created in partnership with United For Respect, reveals the tragic outcome of Walmart's policy failure over the past year. Using a methodology from researchers at University of Wisconsin, we found that if Walmart had instituted an effective and accessible paid sick time policy before the pandemic, at least 7,618 fewer employees would have become sick with COVID-19 and at least 133 lives could have been saved.
Walmart must now take immediate action to support the health of employees and our broader communities by instituting an effective and accessible paid sick time policy for employees across the country. Paid sick time is a critical component of the COVID-19 recovery period, allowing employees to self-isolate, care for ill family, and schedule and attend vaccination appointments. Paid sick time also improves long-term health outcomes for employees and their families, and increases job retention and economic gains for employers.
Critically, as Walmart is the largest private employer of Black, Latinx, and women workers nationally — groups who are disproportionately denied access to adequate paid leave — the positive implications of an effective paid sick time policy on health equity would be significant.
Workers have been telling Walmart management for years that we need paid sick leave so we’re not forced to come to work sick. This pandemic is not over yet, and Walmart’s paid leave policy gap is a life or death issue for workers and customers and a huge risk to the company. —Cynthia Murray, Walmart associate
Contact HIP at info@healthinpartnership.org to access additional reports regarding the benefits of paid sick days nationally and in selected states.