Amazon shortens COVID-19 isolation, paid leave for US employees

Amazon is shortening its Covid-19 isolation policy to seven days from 10, the company announced to employees on Friday.

The policy change is effective immediately and applies to all its US employees regardless of vaccination status.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has prompted a spike in cases in the United States and worker shortages at schools, airlines, and businesses. On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) backed recent guidance that people who contract the virus can end their isolation after five days.

Reuters reported that workers with the virus can receive up to 40 hours of paid leave, a decrease corresponding to the shorter isolation period.

Amazon said all employees must report a positive diagnosis and additional leave options are available for those who are still sick after one week.

Earlier this week, Walmart announced it was cutting pandemic-related paid leave to a single week. Walmart and Amazon are the two largest private employers in the US, respectively.