NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Starbucks has announced it will require its nearly 220,000 U.S. workers to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing by Feb. 9.
U.S. employees will also need to disclose their vaccination status by next Monday, Starbucks Chief Operating Officer John Culver said in a letter.
Workers who choose to take a weekly test instead of vaccination will be required to access their own federally approved tests and submit results. Unvaccinated workers are required to wear masks.
The policy update comes as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets a Feb. 9 deadline for large employers with at least 100 employees to fully vaccinate or weekly test workers — despite legal battles that first slowed down implementation of the Biden administration's order.
The mandate was previously told to employees in a Dec. 27 letter but was reiterated on Monday.
"This is an important step we can take to help more partners get vaccinated, limit the spread of COVID-19, and create choices that partners can own based on what's best for them," Culver said. "If vaccination rates rise and community spread slows, we will adapt accordingly. But if things get worse, we may have to consider additional measures. For now, my hope is that we will all do our part to protect one another."
A company source told Reuters that the coffee chain has not seen a large number of stores close in the United States as it did in the first half of 2020, even as the omicron variant rages across the country.
Related
Related
The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the OSHA rule on Friday.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram