Southwest Will No Longer Put Employees Requesting Medical or Religious Exemptions on Unpaid Leave

Southwest Airlines announced that unvaccinated employees requesting medical or religious exemptions no longer have to go on unpaid leave.

As federal contractors, airlines have to follow the Biden administration’s order to require employees to get the COVID19 vaccine by December 8. However, employees can apply for medical or religious exemptions.

Between federal contractors and large business, the rules for federal contractors are stricter with no testing alternative. Large companies, on the other hand, can offer regular testing to their unvaccinated employees.

More Time for Employees to Request Medical or Religious Exemptions

Southwest’s senior vice president of operations and hospitality, Steve Goldberg and the airline’s vice president and chief people officer, Julie Weber, wrote a note to employees on Friday. According to the note, unvaccinated employees looking for an exemption can still continue working while waiting for approval. Employees will only have to follow mask and social distancing guidelines up until airline reviewed the request.

Executives wrote “This is a change from what was previously communicated”. The note added that “Initially, we communicated that these Employees would be put on unpaid leave and that is no longer the case”.

Pushback from Southwest Employees

Southwest’s vaccine mandate received some unfavorable responses from some of its employees. On Monday, hundreds of employees gathered in front of the airline’s headquarters in Dallas to protest against the vaccine mandate. Some of the signs said “Terminate the mandate”, and “no jabs for jobs”.

Other major airlines also required vaccination. American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaska Airlines announced their vaccine mandate following the executive order.

United is the first airline to have its own vaccine mandate in August, a month before the executive order. United will also put employees with medical or religious exemptions on unpaid leave.

Some employees sued United over the recent changes in policy. Same with Southwest, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association sued the company. The pilots union accused the airline of violating federal labor law, changing the working conditions, rules and pay unilaterally.