Coronavirus: 2 Hingham Whole Foods Workers Test Positive

HINGHAM, MA — Two workers at the Whole Foods Market on Derby Street have tested positive for the new coronavirus. Whole Foods confirmed the tests to WFXT-TV on Monday and said the store performed additional cleaning and sanitizing following the positive tests.

Whole Foods has its coronavirus protocol outlined on its website for both keeping employees and customers as safe as possible during the health emergency. Employee support includes:

• Enhanced daily cleanliness and sanitation protocols across all stores and facilities, on top of standard stringent protocols.

• Social distancing guidelines in stores and facilities, ensuring that interaction among team members and between team members and customers can happen at a safe distance.

• Team members have unlimited call-outs during this time.

• All part- and full-time hourly team members at Whole Foods Market stores and facilities in the U.S. and Canada are receiving an additional $2 per hour on top of their current hourly rate through the month of April. In the U.K., part-time and full-time team members in stores and facilities will receive an additional 2£ per hour through the month of April.

• All part- and full-time hourly team members at Whole Foods Market stores and facilities will receive double their regular hourly base rate of pay for every overtime hour worked in a workweek from March 16 through May 3. Enhanced overtime pay is something that Whole Foods Market activates during high-volume holidays, emergency situations or natural disasters.

• All team members placed into quarantine or diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive up to an additional two weeks of paid time off, as announced by parent company, Amazon.

• Like our full-time team members, all part-time team members are eligible to accrue paid time off, which can be used at their discretion.

• Team members who have jobs based in regional offices and global headquarters are empowered to choose to work from home if they are able.

• Any team member who wishes to wear a mask while working may do so.

• There are additional shopping hours designated especially for team members to allow them to purchase the items they need.

• There are daily temperature check screenings for team members and Prime Now Shoppers in all stores and facilities in the U.S.

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