Starbucks Walks Back On Vaccine Mandate Following Supreme Court Ruling

Starbucks has announced that U.S. workers will no longer have to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, walking back on the mandate it announced just this month. 

This week, the company informed employees that it would be reversing its vaccine policy following the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the Biden administration’s executive order that would see companies with 100 or more employees require the vaccine or implement routine testing. 

“We respect the court’s ruling and will comply,” said John Culver, chief operating officer at Starbucks. 

While the coffee retailer will no longer require proof of vaccination, it is still encouraging employees to receive the vaccine and booster shots.  

Additionally, workers have been told they should wear medical-grade surgical masks as opposed to cloth masks. 

This is one of the first companies to address the Supreme Court’s recent ruling and adjust their policies. Other firms that have announced vaccination requirements in recent weeks have yet to declare if they will be altering their policies.