Disney is the latest company to announce that they want all of their in-person employees to be fully vaccinated. Now that there is a COVID-19 vaccine available for those over the age of 12, individuals are being urged to receive the vaccine. This can help protect those who cannot get vaccinated, and children under the age of 12 who do not have an approved vaccine for their age group. A lot of places of work are also mandating the vaccine for their staff, and this is incredibly important for places that welcome a lot of children.
According to CNBC and Business Insider, Disney is now requiring their staff to receive the vaccine if they wish to continue their employment with the company. This mandate will apply to all salaried and non-union hourly employees in the US. This means that it extends past just Disney World and Disneyland, it is any place owned and run by The Walt Disney Company.
The staff have been given to the end of September to receive the vaccine, and employees who are currently working from home will be asked to provide proof that they have been vaccinated before they return to any Disney sites, and this includes the theme parks and offices.
Disney has also said that they are in communication with unions that represent other employees and that vaccines are the best tool they have to control the pandemic spread and to protect all of their workers and their guests. Families may breathe a sigh of relief hearing this, and they may feel more comfortable about their next vacation to the parks. This news comes after the parks have reinstated the use of face masks when inside, regardless of a person’s vaccination status.
Florida and California, where the two parks are located, are two of the largest hot spots in the US, and they are taking these extra precautions to make sure that everyone is safe and protected against the virus. They are also not the first company to institute a vaccine mandate, companies like Google, Facebook and Walmart (a popular family shop) have also mandated their employees to receive the vaccine. A parent’s priority right now is to make sure their child is safe and protected, and when they hear that large companies are also taking their safety seriously, it can go a long way to helping families feel secure and like they can trust the company.
Sources: CNBC, Business Insider