Walmart hourly workers can now earn up to 48 hours of 'paid time off' for any reason - Dallas News

By state law, Koska already gets paid sick time, along with Walmart workers in Illinois, Philadelphia and other jurisdictions that require it. Other big chains are in the same boat; overall, a little less than half of retailers surveyed by consultant firm Mercer said hourly employees get paid sick days on top of regular paid time off. At Starbucks Corp., baristas accrue paid sick leave from the date they're hired, at the same rate Walmart plans to offer--one hour for every 30 hours worked. At that rate, a full-time employee working 40 hours a week would be able to cover one eight-hour shift after six weeks.

From Walmart's perspective, the new policies are designed to combat absenteeism both by making it easier for workers to take the time they need and discouraging no-shows. According to Mercer, measuring and reducing the impact of absences is among the top priorities for companies with 5,000 or more employees.

"What's really happening is they are concerned about people abusing paid time off," said Jennie Romich, an associate professor at the University of Washington whose research focuses on low-income workers.

Whether it reduces absenteeism or not depends on how it's implemented, according to workplace experts. "It's really about what happens in the actual stores," said Anna Haley, an associate professor at Rutgers University. "The proof is in that pudding."

Bloomberg, Matthew Boyle

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