The change follows the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and
revised guidance from the USA's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, it
said.
The US-based staff will now get five days of excused, unpaid
leave following a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, Amazon told workers in a
message it provided to Reuters.
"We can continue to safely adjust to our pre-COVID
policies," the company said, citing the sustained easing of the pandemic,
the availability of vaccines and treatments, and updated public health
guidance.
The changes come amid a stream of challenges for Amazon
after a recent effort to unionize some warehouses. In April, workers at its
warehouse in New York City voted to form the first union.
On Saturday, Amazon said it is halting site-wide
notifications of positive cases in facilities, unless required by law, as well
as efforts to encourage vaccination.
In January, Amazon trimmed paid leave for workers with the
virus to one week, or up to 40 hours. Before that, they got two weeks of paid
time off for COVID-19.
Earlier this. year, Amazon told its workers in US that they
only have to isolate for a week after testing positive for COVID-19, instead of
10 days, following updated US health guidance.
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has prompted a spike
in cases in the United States and worker shortages at schools, airlines and
businesses. On January 3, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) backed recent guidance 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 isolation policy took effect
immediately. Workers with the virus can receive up to 40 hours paid leave, a
decrease corresponding to the shorter isolation period.
"Do not come to work if you are sick," the message
said. "Additional leave options are available for individuals who remain
symptomatic beyond one week."
The Wall Street Journal earlier reported the news.
With hundreds of thousands of warehouse and logistics staff,
Amazon is the second-largest US private employer. Walmart, the largest, this
week told workers it was halving its [COVID-19] paid leave in line with the
updated CDC guidance. © Reuters