Starbucks reversed course and announced in a message to workers Jan. 18 that, following the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the Biden administration's vaccine-or-testing requirement for large employers, the company won't require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular testing. We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets.
Baristas Still Encouraged to Get Vaccinated
Starbucks Chief Operating Officer John Culver said that the company is changing its requirements in response to the court's decision but will still encourage baristas to get vaccinated and boosted and to disclose their status. Culver said that more than 90 percent of Starbucks' U.S. retail workers have disclosed their vaccination status and the vast majority of U.S. baristas are fully vaccinated. Starbucks employs 230,000 U.S. workers.
Unionization Efforts at Company
Starbucks' decision to drop its vaccine requirement comes as the company faces a growing unionization effort within its workforce. Two weeks ago, employees at a unionized store in the Buffalo, N.Y., area walked out, protesting what they claimed were unsafe working conditions.
Starbucks announced new COVID-19 safety protocols Jan. 18. Employees now must wear three-ply medical-grade masks, and the company's isolation guidelines cover anyone exposed to COVID-19, even if they have been fully vaccinated.
GE Suspended Its Requirement
GE suspended its COVID-19 vaccine-or-testing requirement on Jan. 14 following the Supreme Court's ruling. GE, which had 174,000 employees at the end of 2020, has encouraged its employees to get vaccinated, according to a company spokesperson.
Some Employers Are Not Changing Course
Citigroup isn't changing course on its vaccination requirement. Citigroup is headquartered in New York City, where private-sector employers are required to mandate vaccinations for their employees.
(SHRM Online) and (CBS News)
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