In its statement on Friday, Hobby Lobby said it was essential and that it had "implemented several best practices to provide a safer shopping environment" for shoppers. While each state has autonomy in defining the parameters around what is considered an essential business, craft stores are not included in the list of universally accepted essential businesses, nor do they appear in a guidance on the subject provided by the Department of Homeland Security. The announcement comes following controversy for Hobby Lobby after the craft-store chain refused to close its stores and join the nearly 100 major retailers that have temporarily shuttered to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. "My question was, ' Did God tell them they needed to close the stores and not pay us?'" 'Make every effort to continue working the employees' "The line our manager gave us was, 'The employees got what the employees wanted the stores were closed,'" the employee said in an interview shortly after he learned of the furloughs.
During the meetings, they were told the furloughs would affect all workers below management level and was expected to run through at least May 1.Īn employee in a Midwestern state told Business Insider his manager said she would continue to work, though she "has no idea why she will still be there" if stores are closed. "The stores will remain closed until further notice."Īccording to two employees, each speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution but whose employment status and identities were confirmed by Business Insider, managers at their stores called teams into a meeting to deliver the news on Friday afternoon. "As the country continues efforts to manage and mitigate the devastating health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 virus, Hobby Lobby will, after careful consideration, close the remainder of its stores, and furlough nearly all store employees and a large portion of corporate and distribution employees, effective Friday, April 3rd, at 8:00 p.m.," Hobby Lobby posted on its website. In a statement posted on the company website on Friday afternoon, Hobby Lobby announced it would furlough "nearly all store employees" and is "ending emergency leave pay and suspending use of company provided paid time off benefits and vacation." A furlough is when a company temporarily lays off an employee. After quietly reopening stores across the country in defiance of coronavirus-related state lockdown orders, Hobby Lobby is closing all of its stores nationwide and furloughing employees.
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