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Amazon to ease mask rules for vaccinated staff
Amazon will soon allow its U.S. employees to work without a face mask, and to go on paid COVID-19 leave — but only if they’re fully vaccinated.In a message to workers shared with Reuters, Amazon said staff could work without a face mask if local regulations allow, and employees must be fully vaccinated by March 18 in order to get paid leave due to COVID-19The online retailer attributed its policy updates to a recent decline in coronavirus cases across the country, rising vaccination rates, and public health guidance, calling it a “positive sign” for returning to normal operations.Amazon’s COVID-19 protocols have faced scrutiny throughout the pandemic.Amazon is America’s second-biggest private employer behind Walmart, with over 1.6 million full and part-time workers worldwide at the end of last year.The retailer’s paid leave change does not affect workers who have received a religious or medical exemption from vaccination.The company said unvaccinated employees without an exemption can take unpaid time off for a week of COVID-19 isolation.
