Amazon announced to its employees on Saturday that the company is ending its paid time off policy for employees with COVID-19 and is reverting to standard sick leave policies.
The company announcement that was viewed by Insider states that Amazon employees in the US will now receive up to five days of excused, unpaid time after receiving a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.
Amazon employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19 can take up to one full week of paid sick leave. The company gave employees two weeks of paid time off prior to that.
Employees are still able to use their sick time if needed, according to an Amazon spokesman.
According to the announcement to employees, Amazon will no longer excuse time for employees who are waiting for test results given that rapid testing is available.
In its announcement to employees on Saturday, Amazon said it was changing several of its COVID-19 policies as part of its safe return to normal.
The company said 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.
Amazon stopped giving vaccine incentives and stopped sending site-wide notifications of positive COVID-19 cases in its facilities, unless required by law.
There is a push for unionization at some Amazon warehouses, where workers have sought better working conditions, including pay, safety improvements, and benefits like sick leave.
The National Labor Relations Board is expected to count the ballots next week after the Amazon warehouse in Staten Island finished its union drive.
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