CNN Fires Three Staffers Who Came to Work Unvaccinated Against Covid-19
Network chief Jeff Zucker also said the company’s official return-to-office date will be postponed
Workers have been coming into CNN offices on a voluntary basis.PHOTO: ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/BLOOMBERG NEWS
By
Benjamin Mullin
Updated Aug. 5, 2021 4:53 pm ET
CNN President Jeff Zucker told staff Thursday that the network fired three employees who came to work without getting a Covid-19 vaccine, as the company steps up efforts to keep the virus from spreading in its offices.
In an email to employees Thursday, Mr. Zucker said that the terminated employees violated the company’s honor system, which asked workers to attest that they were vaccinated but didn’t require them to produce documentary evidence of their vaccination.
“Let me be clear—we have a zero-tolerance policy on this,” Mr. Zucker said. “You need to be vaccinated to come to the office. And you need to be vaccinated to work in the field, with other employees, regardless of whether you enter an office or not.”
He said showing proof of vaccination may become part of the process of entering CNN buildings.
CNN had no immediate comment on Mr. Zucker’s email.
Up to now, workers have been coming into CNN offices on a voluntary basis. The company was targeting Sept. 7 as its official return-to-office date, but Mr. Zucker said the return will now be postponed. He said that, given expert guidance on the spread of the virus, the company is tentatively planning for a return to the office sometime in mid-October, but cautioned that plans could change.
“Given the uncertainty that exists today, we are reluctant to put a specific date on it,” Mr. Zucker said. “We will evaluate in the coming weeks, and I promise that we will give you at least 30 days notice for any return.”
“I think it is fair to say that we are all feeling a mix of anticipation, anxiety, frustration, confusion, and exasperation,” Mr. Zucker said. “But we will get there. Continue to take care of yourselves and each other.”
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While Covid-19 vaccinations are highly effective at preventing hospitalizations or death from the virus, they’re not foolproof in preventing infection. This poses problems for events like the Olympics and raises broader questions about immunity in the long term. Photo: David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier/Associated Press
Write to Benjamin Mullin at Benjamin.Mullin@wsj.com |
