Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian is serious when it comes to vaccinating their employees. Earlier this year, Delta announced that they will only hire vaccinated individuals. On Wednesday, the CEO announced that unvaccinated Delta employees will pay $200 additional on their health insurance premiums. This new policy will start on November 1. The main reason for this is the steep cost of healthcare for COVID cases.
Unvaccinated Delta employees will also have to deal with different restrictions. This includes wearing masks indoors which is now in effect. Starting September 12, they will also have to show a negative COVID19 test.
Corporate Vaccine Mandate
Different airlines are starting to have a vaccine mandate. United now requires employees to complete their COVID19 vaccine doses. However, there are still other airlines such as Delta that stopped short of having an outright corporate vaccine mandate. Instead, Delta made it costly and difficult for unvaccinated Delta employees.
In an employee memo released by Ed Bastian, he said that “The average hospital stay for COVID19 has cost Delta $50,000 per person”. He added that “This surcharge will be necessary to address the financial risk the decision to not vaccinate is creating for our company”. According to the statement, employees hospitalized in recent weeks were not fully vaccinated.
Initiative to Convince Unvaccinated Delta Employees
United Healthcare handles Delta’s health insurance plans. However, the new policy was an initiative by the airline.
Delta also announced that by September 30, “in compliance with state and local laws, COVID pay protection will only be provided to fully vaccinated individuals who are experiencing a breakthrough infection”. This means that unvaccinated Delta employees who will test positive for COVID will have to use their sick leave after September 30.
According to Bastian, 75% of Delta’s employees already receive full doses of the COVID vaccine. That is equivalent to around 75,000 employees.
Pfizer’s FDA Approval
Alaska Airlines this month announced that it is considering mandatory vaccination if the FDA grants full approval for the vaccines. On Monday, the US Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
