Pizza Chain Offers Paid Time Off for Employees Who Want to Protest

The 700 employees at ‘&pizza’ can take time off for activism efforts without fear of losing pay. The pizza chain recently announced it would offer its employees paid time off (PTO) for activism after George Floyd’s death, according to Fox News.

“For those in this pain. For those in this fight. We stand with the Black Community against racial hate and injustice,” ‘&pizza’ tweeted.

A spokesperson told ‘Food & Wine’ that these days off will be in addition to the PTO employees already receive. The policy will empower employees “to participate in activism of their choosing starting this week and moving forward,” the spokesperson said.

“It’s about showing — and fighting for — unity,” Michael Lastoria, CEO of ‘&pizza’, said in a statement. “And we’ve always tried to make it more than a word, to act as more than just a pizza brand, and to serve more than just our guests.”

Social justice PTO became a hot new perk for employees in 2017, according to Business Insider. The benefit gives employees a few days each month to protest, vote, and participate in marches.

Now, more businesses like ‘&pizza’ are joining in. The fast-casual restaurant isn’t the only small business to offer a time-off policy amid the nationwide protests.

Dan Bailey, president of Wikilawn, an online resource for garden and lawn care, told Business Insider that he’s offering time off for employees who wish to protest. “Some things are more important than a company’s bottom line,” he said.