Lowe’s Rebuts Viral Tweet That Alleged Missouri Retailer Fires Staff with COVID

By Jason Wilson Last updated Aug 6, 2021

click to enlarge

Do it right for less or let Lowe correct you on Twitter.

An Ozarks writer, RAL Phillips, went viral on Twitter over allegations about her son’s COVID-19 rules in the workplace. Phillips’ August 4 tweet described her son working at a Springfield Lowe’s – and that he had told her the hardware store had a new, two-tier COVID-19 policy: If you’ve been vaccinated and diagnosed with COVID, you will placed with paid sick leave. If you are not vaccinated and get COVID, you will be discharged.

My son works at Lowes in MO. Your new Covid policy:

1. If you are vaccinated and contract Covid, you will be paid if you fall ill
2. If you are not vaccinated and get Covid, you will be discharged.

My son said that the rest of the unvaccinated are finally getting vaccinated.

– Rise of the Alien Queen (@rise_alien) August 4, 2021 Phillips ended the tweet with “My son said the rest of the unvaccinated are finally getting vaccinated.”

With over 16,000 retweets, the responses got wild. Many spoke on the matter, with some praising Lowe’s for their “new policies” and some vowing never to shop at Lowe’s again. Skeptics began marking Lowes for not believing the self-proclaimed alien queen.

The next day, Lowe posted his own response on Twitter – and responded to several users, including Phillips, with a statement rejecting the supposedly “new” policy.

Lowe’s does not fire employees who contract COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, nor do we set sickness benefit payments based on vaccination status.

– Lowes (@Lowes) August 5, 2021
The company wrote, “Lowe’s does not fire employees for contracting COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status, nor do we make a sickness benefit determination based on vaccination status.”

When interviewed by other users, Phillips doubled down that the COVID-19 policy exists but may only have come from a rogue manager at Lowe. In general, employers can request vaccines under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, but they cannot fire someone who has contracted COVID-19. FMLA and other federal laws protect skilled individuals who miss their jobs because of a serious health condition.

Lowe’s official corporate policy regarding COVID-19 was updated on August 2nd to require employees to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. There are no guidelines on vaccinations in the guideline beyond the mask rule.

As for Phillips, just before posting this article, she added a footnote to her original tweet saying that Lowe had denied that policy, but she applauded her son’s manager.

Footnote: Lowe’s has denied that this is their policy. And all I can say about that is that my son’s manager is a brave wanker who tackled this on his own in his shop. Bravo!

– Rise of the Alien Queen (@rise_alien) August 6, 2021

Follow Jenna on Twitter at @writesjenna. Email the author [email protected]