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SEATTLE >> Alaska Air Group has told its 22,000 employees that they need to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
There are a few exceptions to the policy, which has changed since last month, the Seattle Times reported.
In an email sent Thursday to all Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employees, the Seattle-based company announced that employees must now be fully vaccinated or approved for appropriate accommodation.
Officials said the new police force would comply with the White House ordinance, which requires all federal contractors to vaccinate their workers. It replaces an Alaska policy that paid vaccinated employees $ 200 and required regular testing for others. At the time, Alaska stated that 75% of its employees had been vaccinated.
A memo from Andy Schneider, Alaska’s senior vice president of People, states that President Joe Biden’s executive order applies to both Alaska Air’s subsidiaries and some contractors.
“After careful review of this order, we determined that Alaska, Horizon and McGee employees (including certain contractors and suppliers) were covered by this federal immunization mandate along with the other major US airlines because of our significant work for the federal government.” Schneider informed employees in the email with.
Alaska said the deadline for employees to be fully vaccinated could be as early as December 8th. The airline is extending its $ 200 offering for newly vaccinated employees through December 1.
Alaska said employees can “demand reasonable accommodation for sincere religious beliefs or an illness that prevents them from receiving the vaccine.”
Employees who are granted an exemption for religious or medical reasons “may be subject to additional protocols such as unpaid leave of absence,” said Schneider’s email.
United Airlines was the first major US airline to require vaccinations for all employees. New York-based JetBlue has also announced that it will be implementing a similar policy.
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