Walmart cuts paid leave for COVID-19 after new CDC guidelines released

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WGFL/WKRC) - Walmart has become one of the first major retailers to cut back on paid leave for COVID-19, according to a new report from Reuters that cites an internal memo sent out on Tuesday.

Employees will now have less paid time off after testing positive for the virus under a new company policy. Those who test positive for the virus, or need to isolate, will receive one week of paid leave instead of the previous two weeks that Walmart set early in this pandemic. This applies to all hourly employees and long-haul drivers nationwide.

In March of 2020, Walmart announced it would offer a two week paid sick leave.

However, according to the memo, this change reflects the updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which suggets people should isolate for five days instead of 10 after testing positive for COVID.

Workers who are unable to work after one week of paid leave, may be eligible for additional pay replacement for up to 26 weeks.

Walmart is also reportedly asking corporate employees to work primarily from home until Jan. 30.

Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States with about 1.6 million workers,