Quick-food staff in Westmoreland County declare they have been pressured to work regardless of being sick

Two employees at the Subway in Derry, Westmoreland County claim owners pressured them to work despite being ill amid cases of COVID-19.Watch the full story in the video player above. Maria Henry shared a text conversation between herself and owner Linda Hines with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. The conversation shows Hines urged Henry to “reconsider” calling off despite having a fever. When Henry refused, text messages show she was told “we won’t need you any longer” and let go. “I’m just astounded to be honest that I got treated that way just for being sick,” Henry said.Henry said she tested positive for COVID-19 the next day. She had already given notice that she was leaving to take a new job, but she expected to stay on and work until Oct. 13. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with Linda Hines about the allegations. Hines said she never intended for it to seem like she was letting Henry go early. She said she thought she was done at the end of the month.”The reason for those words were I had already told her good luck the day before in her new job and if it doesn’t work out she is welcome to come back,” Hines said.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 also spoke with Amber Holnaider. She worked as the manager of the store last week. Holnaider is 25 weeks pregnant and claims she continued to work despite her sister, who is also employed at the store, recently testing positive for COVID-19.”I worked an entire week sick with one day off and I still had to return,” Holnaider said.Hines said Holnaider told her multiple times that she was just dealing with allergies and last week she demanded Holnaider take a COVID-19 test before returning to work.”She refused to get a COVID-19 test and finally she went last night and got it,” Hines said.Holnaider is still awaiting those test results. Hines denied urging any employees to work while ill, arguing her approach during the pandemic has been the opposite.”If they have a headache or fever or a symptom of COVID-19 stay home,” Hines said. “We do ask them if it’s going to last three or four days to be tested before coming back to the store.”Hines said she was disappointed to see the allegations on social media and is confident the community will trust the work they’re doing.”People that know us know that isn’t how we operate,” Hines said. “We are a family business and we treat our employees like family.”

Two employees at the Subway in Derry, Westmoreland County claim owners pressured them to work despite being ill amid cases of COVID-19.

Watch the full story in the video player above.

Maria Henry shared a text conversation between herself and owner Linda Hines with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. The conversation shows Hines urged Henry to “reconsider” calling off despite having a fever. When Henry refused, text messages show she was told “we won’t need you any longer” and let go.

“I’m just astounded to be honest that I got treated that way just for being sick,” Henry said.

Henry said she tested positive for COVID-19 the next day. She had already given notice that she was leaving to take a new job, but she expected to stay on and work until Oct. 13.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with Linda Hines about the allegations. Hines said she never intended for it to seem like she was letting Henry go early. She said she thought she was done at the end of the month.

“The reason for those words were I had already told her good luck the day before in her new job and if it doesn’t work out she is welcome to come back,” Hines said.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 also spoke with Amber Holnaider. She worked as the manager of the store last week. Holnaider is 25 weeks pregnant and claims she continued to work despite her sister, who is also employed at the store, recently testing positive for COVID-19.

“I worked an entire week sick with one day off and I still had to return,” Holnaider said.

Hines said Holnaider told her multiple times that she was just dealing with allergies and last week she demanded Holnaider take a COVID-19 test before returning to work.

“She refused to get a COVID-19 test and finally she went last night and got it,” Hines said.

Holnaider is still awaiting those test results. Hines denied urging any employees to work while ill, arguing her approach during the pandemic has been the opposite.

“If they have a headache or fever or a symptom of COVID-19 stay home,” Hines said. “We do ask them if it’s going to last three or four days to be tested before coming back to the store.”

Hines said she was disappointed to see the allegations on social media and is confident the community will trust the work they’re doing.

“People that know us know that isn’t how we operate,” Hines said. “We are a family business and we treat our employees like family.”

Comments are closed.