Yesterday, Walmart changed its worker safety policies again concerning the current situation.
They will be taking employee’s temperatures at both stores and warehouses before every shift. If an employee has a temperature above 100 degrees, they will be sent home.
They are instructed to seek medical attention if needed. They will still be paid for coming in even though they will not be able to work.
Walmart is also making gloves and medical masks available for all employees that wish to wear them.
They will be high-quality masks, but not N95 respirators — which should be reserved for at-risk healthcare workers.
Walmart Statement
Right now there seems to be a back and forth on whether we all should be wearing masks and gloves. Some say yes, some say no.
The CDC has said that if you’re healthy, that it isn’t necessary. But I have seen some medical professionals disagree with that. I really think at this time, no one really knows the right answers for any of this.
But Walmart employees are worried about it, so the company will be supplying them with protective measures that they have asked for.
If an associate feels more comfortable wearing masks, we want to give them that opportunity to do so.
Dan Bartlett, spokesperson for Walmart
It is crazy to think that here in America that we are short on something that seems as simple as a face-mask. Even hospitals are struggling to get supplies and that is concerning.
Walmart will need more than 7 million masks per week to cover the needs of their employees. It will be a few weeks before they come in because they are very hard to get right now.
Walmart and other stores have installed sneeze guards at checkout and pharmacies. I even noticed our local Aldi and Albertsons store had done this. Including signs on the floor to help with social distancing.
Walmart is also planning to add one-way aisles. Not a bad idea! This will definitely help with social distancing! I honestly hope that some of these changes remain in place long after the threat of the virus.
