This is the online version of the Popular Information — a newsletter about politics and power. Sign up for your own subscription to get independent accountability journalism in your inbox: As the coronavirus spreads within the United States, Kroger — the country's largest supermarket chain — continues to maintain sick leave policies that incentivize workers to show up ill. The company operates over 2700 supermarkets under a variety of brands, including Harris Teeter, Dillons, and Ralphs, and employs 453,000 people.
Judd I have recommended your newsletter to countless people both online & in real life. Thank you for being a reliable source of information in a sea of rumors, lies & disinformation. You’ve earned my trust.
wow - thank you for these newsletters! this is terrible. i had to back off news a bit for mental health reasons; i had no idea about this exemption. it is time for a fully paid sick leave policy - for everyone - it is for the societal good. I am starting to think that there needs to be mass closings to get the social distancing needed.
In the recent press releases (announcements) from Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO, he states that Kroger is "providing financial support from our Helping Hands fund – a company-sponsored employee assistance fund – to associates who may be directly affected."
Setting aside the vague language, which is another concern, looking at the Helping Hands Fund, I discovered the following.
At the end of FY 2018 (fiscal year 2018), the Kroger Helping Hands Fund had $496,335 according to the Fund's IRS Form 990.
According to Payscale.com, the average hourly pay for a Kroger employee is $10.31.
The estimated cost-to-employer for such an employee is $12.89 per hour.
If an employee is out of work for two weeks due to Covid-19, the cost to the Fund is approximately $1,031.
Thus, the Fund could pay the wages for 481 employees who are out sick for two weeks.
According to Business Insider, Kroger has approximately 450,000 employees.
Therefore, the Fund could pay for 0.1% of the Kroger workforce out for two weeks due to Covid-19.
I retired after 36 years, 1/2 with union and 1/2 mgmt. This company has always had an employee first relationship with its associates. This sounds like a disgruntled union local doing bargaining in advance of negotiations. Sick!!!!!
Against the mighty government and corporate sins of greed and power, we all think "what can we do?" We can educate ourselves, spread the word and defeat the rising tide of ignorance and complacency.
This is false. The whole article is filled with half truths. Your sources are misinformed. Kroger has made adjustments to all attendance policies as of a week ago so anything you have a printed copy of is outdated. If you want the real truth call the ufcw locals and get your information from them. Why are you trying to hurt us? All this will do is create more panic and distrust.
I don't know if this was published after a company wide email came out about sick leave, but Kroger is choosing to follow the paid two week leave if you are diagnosed with Covid-19. All you need is confirmation from your medical provider it public health authority that you just be placed under mandatory quarantine.
I love to crap on this company as much as the next person, but as soon as two associates in Seattle and Colorado we're diagnosed this information about the updated emergency sick leave policy was released.
Associates will receive up to 14 days paid time off. I never thought they would do anything and would force us to use vacation and personal time if we had it.
Surprisingly somebody stepped up and did the right thing.
All of this information was released on March 14th. Maybe an edit to the article is needed?
Some of the Kroger owned stores don't even have union contracts, those employees have no support or protection for their jobs. They can't even attempt to stay home to self quarantine, even if they technically qualify for it, they would likely face retribution for it later. They have been hiring new employees to deal with the customer traffic. The company could move to grocery pickup/clicklist, or at the very least waive the fees for those services to encourage using it, but they are instead continuing to encourage customers to crowd into the stores. They could place limits on the number of customers allowed in stores at one time, but they won't even take that step. This company has decided the only thing that matters is the money, not public health, and not the health of their associates. While many other employers have taken large steps to provide paid leave, and limit exposure, Kroger has done nearly nothing.
Idk if that's true I know an employee that works their but he's not been to that at all. I know an employee that was sick in Feb for 4 days not including his 2 days off, they let him go. Their policy doesn't reflect the lip service they display for the public. Obviously if the public was important they employee would be as well. Because exposing the public to a known sick employee it's cool at all. They also have employees that are bitter and don't care, had one tell me it's not in the hand book so they don't wash their aprons because Kroger doesn't pay them enough. I said that's a health code violation, they said kroger should wash them. It's immature and dangerous, not to mention the lack of intelligence. I try not to shop there of I can help it. I certainly don't buy meats that they package or cut at the deli. I was told the older ppl wash their aprons, it figures a dying breed ppl with some dignity and respect, soon they'll all be gone.
I hope the government pays us for being out of work therefore we cannot take nobody is going to work and contaminating our family therefore I hope the government pays us for not working is crazy you got to decide into feeding your family or killing your family
I work for City Market, a kroger store in Colorado. My store has done everything it can to take care of its employees. If associates are sick they encourage them to stay home with no repercussions.
I'm a Kroger employee in AZ and you are told from the get go the sick pay policy. It's your decision to work a part time job and sick pay is just ONE of the downfalls. The Company has many issues but they do try to take care of their employees. I personally have over 120 hrs sick pay and two weeks paid vacation with an added 80 for personal time off. They also pay funeral/maternity pay. And I work a minimum of 40 hours a week to pay for it usually 50.
Seriously? No part time worker anywhere gets paid sick time or benefits. So don't bash Kroger as if they are the only company who does this. Read your state's employment standards and that is what you get. If the company you work for pays and provides more than the standard then count yourself blessed.
Judd I have recommended your newsletter to countless people both online & in real life. Thank you for being a reliable source of information in a sea of rumors, lies & disinformation. You’ve earned my trust.
Your work continues to save lives...we are all indebted to your leadership.
wow - thank you for these newsletters! this is terrible. i had to back off news a bit for mental health reasons; i had no idea about this exemption. it is time for a fully paid sick leave policy - for everyone - it is for the societal good. I am starting to think that there needs to be mass closings to get the social distancing needed.
In the recent press releases (announcements) from Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO, he states that Kroger is "providing financial support from our Helping Hands fund – a company-sponsored employee assistance fund – to associates who may be directly affected."
Setting aside the vague language, which is another concern, looking at the Helping Hands Fund, I discovered the following.
At the end of FY 2018 (fiscal year 2018), the Kroger Helping Hands Fund had $496,335 according to the Fund's IRS Form 990.
According to Payscale.com, the average hourly pay for a Kroger employee is $10.31.
The estimated cost-to-employer for such an employee is $12.89 per hour.
If an employee is out of work for two weeks due to Covid-19, the cost to the Fund is approximately $1,031.
Thus, the Fund could pay the wages for 481 employees who are out sick for two weeks.
According to Business Insider, Kroger has approximately 450,000 employees.
Therefore, the Fund could pay for 0.1% of the Kroger workforce out for two weeks due to Covid-19.
I retired after 36 years, 1/2 with union and 1/2 mgmt. This company has always had an employee first relationship with its associates. This sounds like a disgruntled union local doing bargaining in advance of negotiations. Sick!!!!!
Rodney doesn't care about anything but the bottom line. Never has never will. 8 year Kroger manager here.
Muckraker! Get in there.
Against the mighty government and corporate sins of greed and power, we all think "what can we do?" We can educate ourselves, spread the word and defeat the rising tide of ignorance and complacency.
This is false. The whole article is filled with half truths. Your sources are misinformed. Kroger has made adjustments to all attendance policies as of a week ago so anything you have a printed copy of is outdated. If you want the real truth call the ufcw locals and get your information from them. Why are you trying to hurt us? All this will do is create more panic and distrust.
I don't know if this was published after a company wide email came out about sick leave, but Kroger is choosing to follow the paid two week leave if you are diagnosed with Covid-19. All you need is confirmation from your medical provider it public health authority that you just be placed under mandatory quarantine.
I love to crap on this company as much as the next person, but as soon as two associates in Seattle and Colorado we're diagnosed this information about the updated emergency sick leave policy was released.
Associates will receive up to 14 days paid time off. I never thought they would do anything and would force us to use vacation and personal time if we had it.
Surprisingly somebody stepped up and did the right thing.
All of this information was released on March 14th. Maybe an edit to the article is needed?
Some of the Kroger owned stores don't even have union contracts, those employees have no support or protection for their jobs. They can't even attempt to stay home to self quarantine, even if they technically qualify for it, they would likely face retribution for it later. They have been hiring new employees to deal with the customer traffic. The company could move to grocery pickup/clicklist, or at the very least waive the fees for those services to encourage using it, but they are instead continuing to encourage customers to crowd into the stores. They could place limits on the number of customers allowed in stores at one time, but they won't even take that step. This company has decided the only thing that matters is the money, not public health, and not the health of their associates. While many other employers have taken large steps to provide paid leave, and limit exposure, Kroger has done nearly nothing.
Idk if that's true I know an employee that works their but he's not been to that at all. I know an employee that was sick in Feb for 4 days not including his 2 days off, they let him go. Their policy doesn't reflect the lip service they display for the public. Obviously if the public was important they employee would be as well. Because exposing the public to a known sick employee it's cool at all. They also have employees that are bitter and don't care, had one tell me it's not in the hand book so they don't wash their aprons because Kroger doesn't pay them enough. I said that's a health code violation, they said kroger should wash them. It's immature and dangerous, not to mention the lack of intelligence. I try not to shop there of I can help it. I certainly don't buy meats that they package or cut at the deli. I was told the older ppl wash their aprons, it figures a dying breed ppl with some dignity and respect, soon they'll all be gone.
I hope the government pays us for being out of work therefore we cannot take nobody is going to work and contaminating our family therefore I hope the government pays us for not working is crazy you got to decide into feeding your family or killing your family
I work for City Market, a kroger store in Colorado. My store has done everything it can to take care of its employees. If associates are sick they encourage them to stay home with no repercussions.
I'm a Kroger employee in AZ and you are told from the get go the sick pay policy. It's your decision to work a part time job and sick pay is just ONE of the downfalls. The Company has many issues but they do try to take care of their employees. I personally have over 120 hrs sick pay and two weeks paid vacation with an added 80 for personal time off. They also pay funeral/maternity pay. And I work a minimum of 40 hours a week to pay for it usually 50.
Just saying
Seriously? No part time worker anywhere gets paid sick time or benefits. So don't bash Kroger as if they are the only company who does this. Read your state's employment standards and that is what you get. If the company you work for pays and provides more than the standard then count yourself blessed.
I've been there 5 years and have 15 days of PTO I can use at the drop of a hat. Some of these people sound rather salty