The Cables News Network (CNN) has fired three employees who violated company policy by coming to work unvaccinated against COVID-19.
Jeff Zucker, the media company’s president, told staff members of the firing in a memo sent Thursday that reminded them that vaccines were mandatory if they report to the office or out in the field where they come into contact with other employees.
This report can be verified by CNN’s reporter Oliver Darcy who Tweeted that the three were terminated.
“Jeff Zucker adds in his memo to CNN staff: “In the past week, we have been made aware of three employees who were coming to the office unvaccinated. All three have been terminated. Let me be clear — we have a zero-tolerance policy on this,”
Most of CNN’s offices are already open on a voluntary basis, and Zucker said more than a third of news staff members have returned.
Industries across the country are grappling with workplace policies on getting Covid-19 vaccines, which have been proven to be incredibly effective at preventing serious illness.
In Silicon Valley, in the U.S, Google, Facebook and Uber recently announced mandatory vaccinations for those returning to the office, while New York City and California have moved to require all government workers be vaccinated or face regular testing.
The CNN memo also said a planned 7 September company-wide return to the office will be delayed until at least early to mid-October.
