The Schertz H-E-B Plus! at Interstate 35 and Roy Richard Drive.

An anonymous H-E-B employee is calling for company CEO Howard Butt, III to change the grocery store's sick day policy after alleging they were told to continue working after testing positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 1, 2023. "While I wasn't running a fever, I had terrible symptoms and by all means should have been encouraged to stay at home," the person posted in January, along with their petition. Semi-Automatic Pouring Machine

The employee states that the sick leave issue arose because of their testing positive for COVID, however the petition argues against the H-E-B's sick policy as a whole. The company's previous policy allowed employees to call out sick eight times over the span of a year. Now, employees could potentially lose their job if they call out more than three times in six months, according to a June 2022 article published by the San Antonio Report.

H-E-B company policy uses a step system to track an employee's attendance, according to reporter Waylon Cunningham. Employees gain steps if they miss or are late to a shift, with a certain number of steps resulting in termination. If an employee is late, they receive one step. An employee who calls in sick earns two steps and if someone does not show up for their shift without alerting a manager, they receive three steps.

According to the petitioner, they wore a mask and brought the positive COVID test to a meeting with their general manager and department manager, informing both that they considered themselves a "danger" to their team and to the H-E-B's customers. The employee alleges they received one step for leaving work early that day, rather than the two that would have been given for calling in sick. But now, the petitioner is asking H-E-B to consider the sick day policy for all illnesses, not just COVID.

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"We should not have to suffer consequences for prioritizing our health, our fellow partners' health, and our customers' health above our attendance record," the petitioner wrote. The petition requests that H-E-B's policy changes to include legitimate illness as an approved excuse for absences and to let the managers decide whether or not to excuse an absence for sickness. "I'm not asking for extended disaster pay or forced leave, I'm simply asking that we aren't punished for something outside of our control," the employee concluded.

In response to request for comment, Lisa Helfman, H-E-B's senior director public affairs in Houston, said the company is committed to the health and safety of its employees, which they refer to internally as partners, and that of H-E-B customers. "When a Partner is sick, we want them to stay home, and our managers are expected to work with them to ensure their wellbeing," Helfman wrote in an email. "While we are looking into the concerns expressed in this petition, we know the comments are not consistent with the intention of our policy. Our internal policies are designed by Partners for Partners with months of research and feedback. H-E-B's time and attendance policy has been piloted in our stores and in place since October 2020."

The petition has gained traction in the two weeks that it has been online with nearly 5,500 signatures of the 6,00 requested. There is a message board where people can leave a reason why they have signed the petition.

"HEB can’t claim as their motto 'Because People Matter' when their policies actively endanger the people who work and shop at their stores, not to mentioned [sic] the countless loved ones they come into contact with outside of work," commenter Brandon S. wrote.

Petition signer Sara P. added her voice, posting that: "As a customer and a lifetime fan of H-E-B, I’m honestly disgusted. Why would I want to shop somewhere where all the employees are sick and handling MY FOOD?? I had great pride as a shopper knowing that I was supporting a company that did right by their employees. Now not so much. This is not only a public health issue, but a human rights issue."

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