Cumulus Media has become the first large radio group operator to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees.
In a memo to all employees sent out this afternoon, the company states that all staffers must have had their shots by September 27 in order to return to the offices two weeks later on October 11. At that time, all employees outside of those who are designated as permanent remote and those with legal exceptions will return to their offices including all sales staffers and those working out of the corporate offices in Atlanta and New York.
Between now and then the only unvaccinated employees allowed in Cumulus facilities are Location Captains and certain pre-approved Board Operators, Phone Screeners, News Hosts/Anchors and Engineers. Unvaccinated Business Managers and Promotions Directors are no longer allowed in the offices.
In explaining why the company is mandating vaccinations, the Cumulus memo states, “Exceptions to the return to office plan will not be considered except as legally required. The decision to return to our offices was made with utmost consideration and reflects how we believe we can optimize our business efforts. Put simply, we believe that FORCE CUMULUS is at our best when we’re working together in offices. To do that as safely as we reasonably can, we’re requiring that everyone be vaccinated except those legally excepted. It would neither be fair nor do we have the bandwidth to make exceptions based on individual preferences.” Sellers will not be expected to return to the office full time but will be expected to be in the office for meetings, events and as determined by managers. Staffers at the corporate offices may be asked to follow a different return policy as the company assess opportunities to reduce real estate assets.