Amazon ends 14 days of paid time-off for Covid-infected employees

E-commerce giant Amazon has stopped seven days of paid time off (PTO) for frontline employees who contracted Covid-19.

Starting from Monday, Amazon will offer up to five days of “unpaid, excused leave”, reports CNBC.

Amazon initially offered 14 days of paid time off to Covid-infected workers at the start of the pandemic.

In a fresh notice, Amazon said that the workers with “confirmed” Covid-19 cases can submit a request for paid time off per its “standard sick leave policy”, regardless of vaccination status.

“Amazon will also stop giving workers excused time off when waiting for their COVID-19 test results, citing the wide availability of rapid tests,” the report noted, citing the notice.

Amazon is also discontinuing its vaccine incentive programme that paid workers $40 for every jab they received.

The company will also no longer notify entire workplaces of positive Covid-19 cases “unless required by law”.

“The sustained easing of the pandemic, ongoing availability of Covid-19 vaccines and treatments, and updated guidance from public health authorities, all signal we can continue to safely adjust to our pre-Covid policies,” according to the company.

The decision may invite a backlash from pro-union workers fighting for better working conditions and improved benefits at its facilities.

–IANS

na/ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.

As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.

Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.

Digital Editor