The unfortunately named Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) is to slap a US$200 monthly surcharge on employees who have not been inoculated against the COVID-10 coronavirus.
The US airline said it would only pay sick pay to employees who have gone down with the virus if they have been double-jabbed.
The airline's boss, Ed Bastian, sent a memo to staff outlining the new rules for staff members who have enrolled in the company’s healthcare plan.
In the US, the average hospital stay for someone suffering from COVID-19 would cost the company US$50,000, which Bastian said was untenable.
From 30 September, Delta intends to make all unvaccinated staff take weekly COVID-19 tests and wear masks on (indoor) Delta premises.
Delta will charge unvaccinated employees on the company health plan $200 a month — a policy executives say is needed because the average hospital stay for the virus costs the airline $40,000.https://t.co/l1xMMJdoVq
— NPR (@NPR) August 25, 2021
The exorbitant cost of healthcare in the US has prompted many US companies to go down a similar route to Delta, even Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), the US investment bank where many employees aspire to be richer than Croesus.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) announced this week that all employees, clients and visitors to its offices would need to prove they had been double-jabbed before being allowed on the premises.
The bank also plans to bring in mandatory coronavirus testing for staff on a once-a-week basis.
Delta Airlines will charge unvaccinated employees $200 per month extra for their health benefits. But, they are not mandating vaccination.
While insurers are prohibited from charging higher premiums to unvaccinated people, employers themselves can.https://t.co/dX9eJCyGPe
— Larry Levitt (@larry_levitt) August 25, 2021