Whole Foods suggested that employees donate their paid time f to their co-workers who have contracted coronavirus and must stay home, and the billion-dollar company is getting torn apart. An email from Whole Foods CEO John Mackey that was obtained by Vice’s Motherboard, the contents which have proved very controversial. In the email, Mackey explained the company’s protocol for sick leave and paid time f during  He told employees that they may take unlimited, unpaid time f throughout the month March if they wish to take that precaution. However, employees that test positive for coronavirus will receive two weeks paid sick leave.

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This begs the question: what if those who have contracted the deadly virus need more than two weeks to stay in quarantine and recover their health, but can’t afford to go without pay? Well, Mackey suggested that non-infected employees use the option to donate their paid time f to their co-workers who have found themselves in this compromising position. “Team Members who have a medical emergency or death in their immediate family can receive donated PTO hours,” the email stated, “not only from Team Members in their own location, but also from Team Members across the country.” Considering Whole Foods is owned by Amazon, which was founded by , this suggestion that workers divide up their own benefits to help their fellow employees was seen as absurd. Many were outraged by 

A Whole Foods cashier spoke to Motherboard about their frustration with the company’s suggestion. “Considering Whole Foods] is a billion dollar company, I think it is selfish asking the retail workers to figure it out within themselves,” the anonymous person said. “The response from Whole Foods and Amazon] has been quite poor, being a front end cashier I feel like we are the most exposed to the situation … Some us have sick family members whose] immune system is weak and it] could be quite dangerous if they catch this virus.”