CNN fires three workers for coming to work unvaccinated

NEW YORK (AP) – CNN has fired three employees who broke company policy by coming to work unvaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

CNN chief Jeff Zucker told staff members of the layoff in a memo sent Thursday that reminded them that vaccines are mandatory if they show up in the office or field where they come into contact with people. other employees.

“Let me be clear – we have a zero tolerance policy on this,” wrote Zucker, president of news and sports for WarnerMedia.

The note was obtained by The Associated Press after its content was first tweeted by CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy. CNN did not provide any details on the layoffs or where the employees were based.

Most CNN offices are already open on a voluntary basis, and Zucker said more than a third of news staff have returned. Proof of vaccination was left to the honor system, he said, but that could change in the coming weeks.

The CNN leader said masks will be required at offices in Atlanta, Washington and Los Angeles when people are not eating, drinking or in an enclosed private space. Even in offices where masks are not mandatory, people should do what they feel comfortable with “without any fear of reprisal or judgment from their colleagues,” he said.

The CNN memo also said that a planned company-wide return to the office on September 7 will be delayed until at least early in mid-October. Other media companies have made similar decisions due to the increase in COVID cases; the AP told employees on Thursday that a return scheduled for September 13 was also delayed.