A Massachusetts Chipotle store closed Tuesday after a worker was diagnosed with norovirus. That’s bad news for Chipotle’s stock prices, especially after previous problems with norovirus and E. coli, but the story also contains an important signpost to what Chipotle's doing right:
Two other store employees are suspected to be sick with the stomach bug. All three employees called in sick on Tuesday, Berube said.
Chipotle recently announced a policy calling for workers not just to take their paid sick leave while they’re experiencing symptoms, but for five days after symptoms have ended—an important move since norovirus continues to be contagious after symptoms are gone. Workers at a chain without paid sick leave would have every reason to go to work sick, or as soon as they could return after symptoms abated.
In this case, the local board of health suggested that the Chipotle store close, which it did along with getting rid of potentially contaminated food and undergoing a “top to bottom” cleaning. But the fact that those sick workers could stay home was an important move toward preventing another major norovirus outbreak.