Starbucks is implementing a vaccine mandate that will impact both office and retail workers.
The policy states that employees will need to be fully vaccinated by February 9 or submit to weekly testing.
“I recognize that partners have a wide spectrum of views on vaccinations, much like the rest of the country,” said John Culver, COO of Starbucks. “My responsibility, and that of every leader, is to do whatever we can to help keep you safe and to create the safest work environment possible. The vaccine is the best option we have, by far, when it comes to staying safe and slowing the spread of COVID-19.”
Starbucks is requiring that it’s over 300,000 employees report their vaccination status by January 10. The company will recognize an individual as being fully vaccinated if they have received two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Moderna vaccine, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson.
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If an employee remains unvaccinated, they will have to undergo weekly testing starting February 9, which will not be paid for by the company.
Starbucks’ new mandate follows guidance from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) mandate, which is requiring companies with over 100 employees to implement a vaccine or routine testing.
OSHA’s requirements went into effect last month, but has faced legal roadblocks in the process. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to give a final take on the mandate this week.
