TikToker Claims Chili's Outlets Stay Open Even When Workers Test Positive for COVID-19

A TikToker user who usually calls out restaurants with bad practices shared that several Chili's branches remain open despite employees testing positive for COVID-19. Comments from restaurant employees backed up her claim.

The COVID-19 pandemic hampered the growth of several businesses across the world, especially those in the foodservice industry.

Many restaurants had to shut down or operate at a limited capacity due to protocols, while others ran low on workers due to fear of contracting the virus and decreased wages.

While it is understandable that restaurants don't want to be short on staff, COVID-19 protocols and safety measures should still be in place for both employees and customers. However, that is not the case for Chili's.

TikTok user @alexservestea recently outed the restaurant for staying open despite workers testing positive for COVID. According to Alex, many people replied to her video with their own accounts.

One of them claimed that a Chili's franchise in Texas had 15 employees test positive, so the manager asked HR if they could close down for a day to get tested and vaccinated, but Chili's corporate declined the request.

Another user outed Chili's and said that the restaurant management still makes employees work even if someone is a suspected case. The person added:

"We've had 2 workers and a Manager test positive exposing all of us while being forced to still come to work knowing [expletive] well they weren't feeling good."

A Chili's employee in Merritt, Florida, also shared her experience when she and nine other employees tested positive. Still, the branch remained open and refused to take extra precautions.

Yet another employee spoke about what happened in the Chili's branch she works at, claiming her general manager continued to let employees work while waiting for their tests and did not alert other staff members.

Corporate further noted that the employee could not let anyone know that the top management knew about the possible COVID case.

Chili's has since responded to Alex's viral video through Twitter after several people reposted her video and tagged the restaurant's social media account.

The company sent the same automated replies to everyone who tagged them, asking for the specific store locations where such claims were made.

While Chili's corporate department said they had no idea what had happened, another employee exposed them again. According to the worker:

"When I tested positive my gm had me work all weekend waiting for the result and I told corporate this and she said it was fine he had me thinking I was going to get fired [sic]."

Corporate further noted that the employee could not let anyone know that the top management knew about the possible COVID case.

The virus certainly impacted the entire world negatively for over a year, but fortunately, several vaccines have been developed to help lessen the detrimental effects of COVID.

A

recently urged people to get vaccinated after her COVID-19 hospital bill reached $163,000.