The Walt Disney Company has mandated all employees at its U.S. facilities receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a statement released by the company Friday.
“At The Walt Disney Company, the safety and well-being of our employees during the pandemic has been and continues to be a top priority,” the statement read. “Vaccines are the best tool we all have to help control this global pandemic and protect our employees.”
The mandate applies to all salaried and non-union hourly workers. The company is still discussing the mandate with its unions. The requirement will be implemented at all Disney facilities in the U.S., including its theme parks.
Employees who are not already fully vaccinated have been given 60 days to receive or complete their vaccines, and all new hires will already need to have received their shots. The company is requiring proof of vaccinations.
The announcement ironically comes shortly after the company had reinstated mask-wearing mandates for guests and employees at its U.S. theme parks, after previously lifting most of its COVID-19 restrictions.
The reinstated restrictions are consistent with those recently taken by other businesses as cases in the U.S. have again started to rise among unvaccinated individuals. Other large companies have already announced their own vaccination mandates for its employees in recent days.
Like all other similar attractions, Disney closed its U.S. theme parks at the onset of the pandemic. The company reopened its Disney World park in Orlando late last year, and Anaheim’s Disneyland began welcoming guests back in April.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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