Starting November 1, 2021, Delta Air Lines employees who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 and are enrolled in the company’s health plan will be charged a $200 monthly fee to help maintain costs associated with preventing the spread of Coronavirus among its workforce.
Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Ed Bastian wrote to their employees on Wednesday August 25, 2021, that the $200 monthly charge “will be necessary to address the financial risk the decision to not vaccinate is creating for our company.”
Ed Bastian also adds that 75% of Delta Air Lines employees are vaccinated, an improvement from 72% in mid-July.
A Delta Air Lines spokesperson said that the average hospital stay for COVID-19 has cost the company $40,000 per person.
Beginning September 30, 2021, the airline will also stop extending pay protection to unvaccinated employees who contract COVID-19. The company will only extend pay protection to fully vaccinated employees who are experiencing breakthrough infections.
Delta Air lines will also require unvaccinated workers to undergo weekly testing, though this will be covered by the airline. In addition, unvaccinated employees will be required to wear masks in indoor settings.