Disney Will Require All Salaried And Non-Union Cast Members To Be Fully Vaccinated

Disney joins a list of companies that are mandating all their employees to be fully vaccinated.

Disney will require all its U.S.-based cast members to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The new mandate will apply to non-union and salaried cast members. Disney is negotiating with the unions to see if they can mandate it for union cast members.

Cast members and employees will have 60 days to get vaccinated if they haven’t been already. Every new hire will have to be fully vaccinated. Certain exceptions will be made to some cast members who are immunocompromised and unable to be vaccinated.

Disney released a statement about the mandate to make all its U.S. cast members get the vaccine:

“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. Toward that end, and 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. 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. We have also begun conversations around this topic with the unions representing our employees under collective bargaining agreements. In addition, all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated before beginning employment. Vaccines are the best tool we all have to help control this global pandemic and protect our employees.”

Disney is just another major company to require vaccinations before more cast members return to work. Other companies include Netflix, Facebook, Google, The Washington Post, Lyft, Uber, and Wal-Mart.

Disney is currently developing plans and protocols for what it will do with its employees from outside the U.S. Disney is also postponing its return to the office timeline due to the recent surge.

Disney will also offer a daily test option for employees who don’t want to be vaccinated whether it’s for medical or religious reasons.

It seems like the Mouse House is tired of messing around and wants all of its employees vaccinated so the company can get back to work efficiently. Disney is part of the first wave of companies that are requiring the vaccine for their employees.

After this news, I think we are all waiting to see what Disney does regarding guests at its theme parks. Could we see the Clear health pass that I’ve hinted at before? Or will Disney be fine with mask requirements coming and going?

This will be one to watch. Follow Boardwalk Times for all the latest news on The Walt Disney Company.

Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times