Amazon told employees Friday that they will only need to self-isolate for a week after testing positive for COVID-19, instead of 10 days, according to updated US health guidelines.
The Omicron strain of the coronavirus has led to a spike in the number of cases in the United States and staff shortages at schools, airlines and businesses. On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supported recent guidelines that people who contract the virus can end their isolation after five days.
In a message to staff, which Amazon shared with Reuters, the online retailer said its new week-long insulation policy took effect immediately. Employees with the virus can receive up to 40 hours of paid leave, a decrease that corresponds to the shorter isolation period.
“Don’t come to work if you’re sick,” the message read. “Additional leave options are available for individuals who remain symptomatic for more than a week.”
The Wall Street Journal reported the news earlier.
With hundreds of thousands of warehouse and logistics employees, Amazon is the second largest private employer in the US. Walmart, the largest, told workers this week it was cutting half of it in half [COVID-19] paid time off in accordance with updated CDC guidelines.
© Thomson Reuters 2021.
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