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The Home Depot Distributes Thermometers For Employee Temperature Checks, Limits In-Store Shoppers

The Home Depot, one of the few major “essential” retailers keeping its stores open amid the coronavirus outbreak, is making efforts to improve the safety and health of employees and shoppers within its stores. The retailer is distributing thermometers to associates in stores and distribution centers and asking them to perform health checks before reporting to work.

The announcement comes after Walmart said it would start taking temperatures of employees at stores, distribution centers and fulfillment centers when they report to work. The company said it is sending infrared thermometers to facilities across the country over the next few weeks, and also is sending masks and gloves that employees will have the option to wear. In the case of Walmart, a designated employee will check the temperature of coworkers.

The Home Depot also has halted all sales of N95 masks at its stores and web site, redirecting them to be donated to hospitals, health care workers and first responders treating patients during the coronavirus pandemic.

The home improvement retailer said it is limiting the number of customers within its stores to 100, similar to the move Best Buy put in place before it shut down all its stores and made them pickup-only. Other customers will be asked to wait outside and remain socially distanced from one another. The retailer will further promote social and physical distancing practices in stores by marking floors and adding signage to help customers and associates maintain safe distances.

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The stores average approximately 100,000 square feet, according to company spokesperson Sara Gorman. During the spring — the retailer’s busiest season — the company said it is canceling major promotions that drive foot traffic to stores.

The Home Depot already moved store closing hours back to 6:00 p.m. to allow more time for sanitization and restocking. The company is giving full-time hourly employees an additional 80 hours of paid sick time or personal time, while part-time hourly employees will get an additional 40 hours.

If employees are aged 65 or older or are at higher risk of becoming sick with the coronavirus, the retailer is providing 160 hours of paid time off to full-time employees and 80 hours to part-time employees. If they do not use the paid time off in 2020, Home Depot will pay it out at year-end. If an employee contracts COVID-19 or is advised by health officials to self-quarantine due to exposure to the virus, the employee will continue to be paid during time off for up to 14 days.

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