Unvaccinated employees enrolled into Delta Air’s account-based healthcare plan will be subject to a $200 monthly surcharge from November, the US carrier’s CEO has announced.
In a memo sent to all staff, Delta CEO Ed Bastian (pictured) revealed the airline wants to get as close to a 100% vaccination rates among the airline’s workforce as possible. The current vaccination rate among staff is 75%.
In order to hit the target, Bastian announced a number of measures:
- Effective immediately, unvaccinated employees are required to wear masks in all indoor Delta settings. This requirement will remain in place until community case rates stabilise.
- Starting 12 September, any US employee who is not fully vaccinated will be required to take a Covid test each week while community case rates are high. Those with a positive result will need to isolate and remain out of the workplace.
- Beginning 1 November, unvaccinated employees enrolled in Delta’s account-based healthcare plan will be subject to a $200 monthly surcharge.
- Effective 30 September, in compliance with state and local laws, Covid pay protection will only be provided to fully vaccinated individuals who are experiencing a breakthrough infection.
“Protecting yourself, your colleagues, your loved ones and your community is fundamental to the shared values that have driven our success for nearly a century,” Bastian said.
“Vaccinations are the safest, most effective, and most powerful tool we have to achieve our goals, live up to our values and move forward.”