DETROIT (WWJ) -- For the first time, a Detroit-based carmaker is announcing a COVID-19 mandate.
Ford Motor Co. says it will require most of its salaried workers to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8.
While many companies and healthcare systems across the country have implemented vaccine mandates, Ford is the first domestic carmaker to do so.
WWJ AutoBeat reporter Jeff Gilbert says Ford and other companies are waiting for word concerning Biden administration vaccination mandates and until then, the mandate does not apply to manufacturing workers or to Ford Credit workers.
Salaried workers who refuse to be vaccinated by the Dec. 8 deadline without approved medical or religious accommodation will be put on unpaid leave with job protection of up to 30 days.
It was not immediately clear what would happen to those employees after 30 days.
Ford officials say they’re aligning themselves to federal contractor guidelines.
The company says 84% of salaried workers are already fully vaccinated.
A Ford spokesperson said “the health and safety of our workforce remains our top priority,” according to a report from CNBC.
“We have been very encouraged by the support of our employees to comply with our protocols, including the more than 84-percent of U.S. salaried employees who are already vaccinated. As we continue to put measures in place to protect our team, Ford will now require most U.S. salaried employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8, which also aligns to federal contractor guidelines.”
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