Disney World will give its workers paid sick time if they contract COVID-19, union says

Disney workers who get sick from COVID-19 will get guaranteed paid time off to quarantine, its largest union said Thursday, as a small number of employees are returning to their jobs for the partial reopening of Disney Springs.

Disney will give employees three masks plus a thermometer if they request one. Disney also plans to put up plastic barriers at all cash registers, which will only handle touchless transactions for customers.

The Service Trades Council Union, which represents 43,000 Disney employees, released an update Thursday on the new measures to keep employees healthy. The vast majority of those workers have been on unpaid furlough since April 19.

The reemergence of Disney Springs is happening over the next few days. Some third-party operated restaurants and stores are scheduled to reopen May 20, and the union said Disney-operated businesses are scheduled for a May 27 reopening.

No opening date is set for the Walt Disney World theme parks, however.

At work, returning Disney employees will get training on social distancing and safety procedures. In addition, high traffic areas will be cleaned more regularly and handwashing stations are going up around the complex, the union said.

Employees can call in sick without violating the attendance policy if they show coronavirus symptoms, according to the union.

Disney employees will also be involved with monthly worker safety meetings to discuss the situation.

On Wednesday, Dr. Raul Pino, the director of Florida’s Health Department in Orange, gave officials a briefing of what’s happening at Universal CityWalk, which partially reopened Thursday.

Pino said there are disposable restaurant menus, enhanced signs pointing toward restrooms to encourage handwashing and new staff positions on hand to politely enforce social distancing and hygiene.