Amazon workers won’t get paid for Covid leave anymore

A worker sorts out parcels in the outbound dock at Amazon fulfillment center in Eastvale, California on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.

Workers who test positive for Covid-19 will no longer be paid time off.

The company told workers that if they test positive for Covid-19, they will get up to five days of excused, unpaid leave. CNBC workers are still able to use their sick time if they need it.

Workers waiting for Covid test results will no longer have time off excused since rapid tests are now widely available.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its guidance and the Covid policies were slowly pulled back by the e-commerce giant. Up to two weeks of paid time off was offered by the company for employees who were diagnosed with Covid-19. The company reduced paid leave to one week or 40 hours in January.

Unless required by law, Amazon will stop sending site-wide notifications of positive cases in its facilities. The company will stop incentivizing vaccinations.

The company said in the notice that the easing of the Pandemic, ongoing availability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and updated guidance from public health authorities all signal that we can continue to adjust to our pre-COVID policies.

The decision will likely cause a backlash from pro-union workers who are arguing for better working conditions. The move comes a day after the Staten Island warehouse closed its union drive. The National Labor Relations Board will count the ballots on May 2.

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