After the CDC updated their guidelines for isolating and quarkling people with the H1N1 flu, the nation's second-largest private employer decided that a change was necessary for their response policies.
Amazon told employees on Friday that it would be reducing paid leave for people who test positive for covid-19 and those who are exposed to someone with the virus after reviewing the CDC, according to a report. The company will give workers up to 40 hours of paid leave during the seven-day Quarantine and Isolation periods.
The notice didn't mention a negative test in order to return to work. We contacted Amazon to see if this will be required.
Workers at Amazon were given 10 days of paid leave. When the paid leave policy was put in place in 2020, the company gave workers up to 14 days off. The Wall Street Journal reported the most recent notice.
The new policy will apply to all employees regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinations, according to the notice. Amazon said that additional leave options are available to workers who have covid-19 after a week.
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The company told Gizmodo that they work closely with public health authorities and their own medical experts to determine the most effective ways to keep their employees and communities safe. The best way to protect our employees and communities is through vaccinations.
More than 1,800 free on-site vaccination events were hosted by Amazon.
The policy is in line with the new CDC guidance that says people with covid-19 need to be isolated for five days if they are not showing symptoms. The agency said that people exposed to covid-19 must only stay in their homes for five days. The new guidance has been criticized by experts because it doesn't require people to test negative in order to leave isolation and because it could increase the transmission of the virus.
This is a notable change in Amazon's policies for workers. In December, in light of a surge in infections in the U.S. linked to the newest omicron variant, it required its warehouse workers to mask up again.
Walmart, the largest private employer in the country, cut its paid sick leave from two weeks to one week for people with covid-19 or those who have been exposed to it. Individuals who remain sick after their paid leave ends can potentially receive additional covid-related pay for up to 26 weeks.
The decisions by Amazon and Walmart may inspire other employers to follow suit. A change in policies may force workers to choose between going to work sick or not getting paid. It could cost us all more in the long run if we don't support workers that are sick or sickTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkia
