Amazon said Wednesday that it will soon stop requiring face masks for fully vaccinated workers inside warehouses, except where required by law.
Starting Monday, fully vaccinated operations employees in the U.S. will no longer be required to wear a face shield at work, unless required by state or local regulations, according to a notice Amazon sent to workers. and that was obtained by CNBC.
Amazon confirmed to CNBC that it is updating its mask policies for fully vaccinated workers.
Amazon said in the notice to workers that it believes they are fully vaccinated after 14 or more days have passed since their last dose of vaccine. Workers must also have a copy of their vaccination card, the company said.
“A HUGE thank you to all who have prioritized and continue to prioritize our Covid-19 security measures,” the company said in the notice to workers. “The past 14 months have not always been easy, but your dedication continues to be appreciated by leaders and customers across the country. We can’t wait to see your smile. “
To verify that workers are vaccinated, Amazon will require employees to enter their vaccination information into an internal employee portal, called “A to Z.” Fully vaccinated employees will receive a green check mark on the screen, which they will then display as proof when they enter your site at the beginning of their shift.
In early June, Amazon said it will provide workers with a sticker with a green check mark that they can add to their credential, meaning they are fully vaccinated and will allow them to enter work without covering their faces or checking their vaccination status. . In mid-June, Amazon said, it will ask workers to upload a photo of their vaccination card to the internal portal.
All other Covid-19 security protocols will remain the same, Amazon said. Last March, Amazon began taking certain safety precautions inside warehouses, such as instructing employees to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer and practice social distancing.
Amazon joins a growing list of retailers and restaurants that have lowered mask requirements since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this month that fully vaccinated people no longer have to cover their faces. inside. Costco, Walmart, Chipotle, Target, and Starbucks are among several companies that have updated their skin requirements. Home Depot, Gap and Ulta Beauty are among those who said they would maintain their safety precautions for now.
Amazon has not required its front-line workers to be vaccinated, but has encouraged its employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus by offering them a bonus of up to $ 80. Additionally, he has told new hires that they will receive $ 100 for showing proof of vaccination.
In March, Amazon began rolling out on-site vaccination clinics at warehouses in Missouri, Nevada and Kansas. Since then, Amazon said, clinics have opened in more than 250 warehouses in the US and Canada, covering more than half a million front-line warehouse and delivery workers.
