Washington Post Also Mandates COVID-19 Vaccination for All Employees

Department Stores and Airlines Also Demand

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The influential American daily newspaper The Washington Post (WP) has mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for all its employees. This measure was taken in response to many employees expressing concerns amid a surge in cases in the U.S. due to the spread of the Delta variant.

Frederick Ryan Jr., CEO and publisher of WP, sent an email to employees on the 27th (local time) stating, "We have decided to require proof of vaccination as a condition of employment."

WP plans to start collecting vaccination proof from employees returning to the office on September 13. Ryan said, "Although the majority of employees have already submitted vaccination proof, we do not take this decision lightly," adding, "Considering employees' health issues and safety concerns, we believe mandating vaccination for all employees is the right approach." Contractors and visitors entering the WP building will also be required to submit vaccination proof.

However, separate accommodations will be provided for employees who are unvaccinated due to medical or religious reasons. Following investment bank Morgan Stanley's mandate in June requiring vaccination for employees and visitors at its New York office, many U.S. companies have been requiring employee vaccinations. In the media industry, besides WP, CNN has mandated full vaccination for all employees regardless of their work area.

Luxury department store Saks Fifth Avenue plans to require full vaccination for all employees before resuming office attendance this fall. Delta Air Lines currently mandates vaccination for new hires.

Some U.S. federal and local government agencies have already mandated vaccinations for their employees. The Department of Veterans Affairs was the first federal agency to require vaccination for its staff as of the previous day.

The City of New York has ordered 340,000 city employees, including police officers and teachers, to be fully vaccinated by September 13, while the state of California has required vaccination for approximately 246,000 state employees and healthcare workers.

President Biden is considering extending vaccination mandates to federal government employees. CNN, citing sources, reported that "similar to the policy implemented in New York, those who do not wish to be vaccinated will be required to undergo regular COVID-19 testing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.