Ashley Low / For the Daily News Summit
The Arapahoe Basin ski area announced Friday, September 17, that it will require employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
A-Basin COO Alan Thereforeroth said in a blog post on Friday all current and unvaccinated ski area employees must receive their last vaccine before November 2. Thereforeroth added that new employees will have one week from their start date to begin the vaccination process and six weeks to receive their last vaccine. The company’s mandate requires either the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine or the Moderna or Pfizer double-dose vaccines. Dorothée said about 90% of ski area staff were vaccinated on Friday.
Thereforeroth added that the ski area “is not taking the decision lightly” because A-Basin “believes that requiring vaccination of employees is its best step forward.” The COO added since the start of the new coronavirus pandemic “some customers felt that A-Basin was too restrictive in its operations while others felt that the ski area was not doing enough”.
“Our intention is to protect the safety and well-being of our employees and our guests and to keep our business open, viable and sustainable,†Thereforeroth said. “By requiring vaccinations, we will reduce the risk of employees transmitting and contracting the disease, as well as the number of business interruptions caused by employee absences related to illness and quarantines.
A-Basin spokeswoman Katherine Fuller said on Friday that the ski area would help any employee who is disabled, has a health problem or situation that advises against vaccination, or who opposes vaccination on the basis of belief and sincere religious practices. Fuller added that the ski area “will engage in an interactive process to determine if reasonable accommodation can be provided.”
Fuller also said ski area employees who do not meet the requirements will be suspended and subject to termination if they are not vaccinated within the time frame set by A-Basin.
On Friday, Fuller said A-Basin made its decision to force vaccinations on its employees ahead of President Joe Biden’s announcement last week that all private businesses with more than 100 employees will have to either mandate employee vaccinations or require unvaccinated employees to undergo weekly testing. The president’s administration said it would enforce Biden’s executive order via a rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – a regulator of the U.S. Department of Labor – that provides penalties for private companies of $ 14,000 per violation.
Fuller said that A-Basin currently has around 150 employees. She added that A-Basin employees will be paid for the time lost due to the vaccination.
As for A-Basin guests, Fuller said there are currently no new COVID-related restrictions, including vaccination warrants, for skiers and runners.
As a result of Biden’s executive order, A-Basin is the only ski area or ski resort in Summit County to commit to requiring vaccines for its employees. Vail Resorts spokeswoman Loryn Roberson said in an email Friday that Vail Resorts is still discussing vaccination mandates as a business. Roberson said she would provide additional information “as soon as we are able to share more.” The two Summit County properties of Vail Resorts are Breckenridge Ski Resort and Keystone Resort.
Dustin Lyman, president and CEO of Copper Mountain Resort, said in an email Friday that Copper is currently evaluating all of the options “that provide the best opportunity for everyone to enjoy a full season of skiing and riding.
“As we prepare for our Nov. 22 opening,” said Lyman, “we will continue to monitor the situation and make appropriate adjustments.”
