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- Disney is requiring US salaried and non-union hourly employees to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Disney said it has also "begun conversations" with representatives for its unionized employees.
- A wave of companies recently issued vaccine mandates amid rising cases and concerns over the Delta variant.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
The Walt Disney Company on Friday joined a growing list of major corporations requiring US employees working in person to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
"Based on the latest recommendations of scientists, health officials and our own medical professionals that the COVID-19 vaccine provides the best protection against severe infection, we are requiring that all salaried and non-union hourly employees in the U.S. working at any of our sites be fully vaccinated," Disney said in a statement.
"Employees who aren't already vaccinated and are working on-site will have 60 days from today to complete their protocols and any employees still working from home will need to provide verification of vaccination prior to their return, with certain limited exceptions," the company said, adding that new hires will also need to be fully vaccinated before starting work.
Many of Disney's employees are unionized, and the company said it had "begun conversations around this topic with the unions representing our employees under collective bargaining agreements."
A wave of companies recently rolled out vaccinate mandates for on-site staff amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in many states, as well as growing concern over the Delta variant, which early scientific evidence suggests is more contagious and causes more serious infections, prompting the CDC to issue new guidance this week recommending that even vaccinated individuals start wearing masks indoors again.