The highly infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 has prompted an increasing number of companies to demand that their employees get the shot, despite pushback from some state legislatures, labor unions, and staff. And now some firms are starting to fire those who don't comply with their vaccination mandates. Read on as we look at the major companies requiring all or part of their workforce to be inoculated against COVID-19.

Way back in April, Salesforce.com became one of the first major US corporations to restrict its offices to vaccinated employees, a policy the cloud-computing titan implemented in May. Workplace vaccine mandates are legal under federal law, but are being opposed on a local level in some states, with the American public more or less split over whether they're for or against them.

The e-commerce arm of upscale department store chain Saks Fifth Avenue became a trailblazer in the retail sector in May when it revealed that employees who want to return to its Manhattan HQ in the fall will have to be fully vaccinated. Exceptions will be made for staff who “are not in a position” to get the shot.

In May, Delta Airlines brought in a requirement that all new hires would have to be inoculated unless they qualify for an exemption. It's recently updated its policy to include a $200 monthly surcharge for unvaccinated employees who have enrolled in Delta's healthcare insurance plan. In a statement, CEO Ed Bastion said this money "would address the financial risk the decision to not vaccinate is creating for our company." Meanwhile, Southwest and American Airlines have both said that they encourage their staff to get the vaccine but have no plans to make it mandatory. 

One of the first major Wall Street firms to introduce a vaccine mandate of sorts, Goldman Sachs initially required all employees working from its offices in New York to report their vaccination status, a policy that came into effect on 10 June. Unvaxxed staff were still able to enter the workplace, but had to wear a face mask and agree to weekly COVID testing. However, it now says anyone who wants to work in its offices must be vaccinated. This rule also applies to outside visitors to its buildings.

BlackRock bigwigs sent US-based staff a memo in mid-June stating that only vaccinated employees would be allowed to return to its facilities. The world's number one asset manager is planning to follow a hybrid model until October, with some fully vaxxed personnel working from the office and others from home.

Hot on Goldman Sachs and BlackRock's heels, Morgan Stanley decreed in late June that staff working out of its New York HQ would have to be fully vaxxed against COVID by 12 July. The leading investment bank has even extended the edict to clients wishing to attend meetings or visit its Big Apple base.

Adobe joined other Silicon Valley big players in June by issuing its own vaccine mandate. Employees intent on returning to the software firm's offices in San Jose, California are now required to be vaccinated in full before they can even step into the workplace, while the company is closely monitoring local conditions and guidance to assess its re-opening plans.

Also in June, DoorDash announced internally that employees wanting to return to its offices would have to be fully vaccinated against the virus. The mandate doesn't apply to the food-ordering platform's army of delivery agents, or “dashers” as the company calls them, because they're not officially classed as employees.

In late July, Netflix revealed it was making vaccines mandatory for cast and crew members working on US productions. This made it the first big Hollywood studio to do so. The mandate has since been extended to all office-based employees, as well as visitors to the media giant's facilities.

With the fourth wave spooking employers, some are taking more extreme measures to ensure their staff get the shot. Major New York real estate developer the Durst Organization, for instance, has fired non-union employees who refused to get vaccinated by 6 September, apart from those who are exempt for “medical or religious” reasons. It says so far it has only lost one employee.

Like many companies across America, Cisco is embracing a hybrid work model from the fall and is insisting that “critical” staff who work out of its offices must be fully vaccinated, though employees choosing to work entirely from home will obviously be exempt from this requirement. The policy was announced on 29 July.

In late July, healthcare provider Ascension said it would require all unexempted employees to get fully inoculated against COVID-19 "for the safety of patients and visitors, our associates, our families and loved ones, and the community", setting a deadline of 12 November. The policy isn't universally popular. A petition urging the company to retract the mandate was signed by more than 1,000 employees in 24 hours, with many describing the mandate as 'immoral'.

Also in late July, The Washington Post's publisher and CEO Paul Ryan announced that all new hires and existing employees would need to show proof of vaccination to return to the office in September. Interestingly, Jeff Bezos, who owns the publication, has so far resisted calls to issue a vaccine mandate for Amazon employees.

While stopping short of firing employees who refuse to get the COVID-19 shot, MGM Resorts announced in late July that its Las Vegas-based workforce would need to provide proof of vaccination or agree to pay to take frequent COVID tests if they want to work out of the hospitality and entertainment firm's main office.

After extending its voluntary home working policy from 1 September to 18 October, Google has announced that all employees must be fully vaccinated if they want to return to the office. President Biden recently singled out the tech giant for praise, along with four other major corporations that have imposed vaccine mandates, saying he wanted to thank the firm for implementing the COVID-fighting measure.

Echoing several other major US companies, Uber is making vaccines mandatory for white-collar office staff returning to the workplace later this year. However, it's opted not to extend the requirement to its legions of drivers. Instead, the ride-hailing firm will stick to current anti-COVID measures that include compulsory face masks and providing drivers with free Clorox wipes.

Unlike The Washington Post, The New York Times has suspended its planned en-masse September return to the office indefinitely, clearly favouring a more long-term hybrid working approach. However, like its fellow left-leaning publication, any employees who return voluntarily must show proof of vaccination.

Facebook, on the other hand, has simply delayed its return to office plans until October. All staff working out of its campuses in the US will have be to fully vaccinated, though the social media company will create processes for those who can't be inoculated for medical or other valid reasons.

As well as rolling out vaccine mandates, some top US firms are offering staff cash and other incentives to encourage them to get vaxxed. The health insurance firm Anthem has demanded all office staff get the shot and is offering a $50 one-time credit towards insurance premiums or a charitable donation as an incentive.

Union Square Hospitality Group, the New York-headquartered parent of Shake Shack and other well-known restaurant chains, announced in late July that all employees, along with customers wishing to dine in its establishments, would have to be fully vaccinated by 7 September. The measure has been described by CEO Danny Meyer as a company policy rather than a mandate.

When Disney announced that it would require all on-site employees in America to be fully vaccinated, it sparked lengthy negotiations with workers' unions. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has now reached an agreement with the Service Trades Council Union and the Actors Equity Association. According to the deal, all staff members who come into contact with visitors – including ride operators, service workers, and performers – will have to show proof of vaccination by 22 October. Exemptions apply to people with medical conditions or "sincerely held" religious beliefs.  

America's largest private employer joined the fray in late July after introducing a vaccine mandate for its HQ office staff, who are required to be fully vaxxed by early October. As is the case with several other major US firms though, frontline staff are excluded from the edict. Still, Walmart's floor, distribution center, and other blue-collar employees are being strongly encouraged to get the shot. Those who do so are being rewarded with a $150 bonus, two hours of paid time off to travel to a vaccination center, and up to three days' paid leave if they have an adverse reaction.

Echoing its arch-rival Uber, Lyft has made vaccines mandatory for staff who wish to return to its offices. The policy kicked in on 2 August, though the ride-hailing firm has pushed back its return to the office by six months. As with Uber, the policy only applies to white-collar office staff and hasn't been imposed on drivers and riders.

Likewise, Walgreens' frontline employees are exempt from its vaccine mandate, which calls for all support office staff to be fully vaxxed by 30 September. Those working in stores, distribution centers, and other facilities have no such requirement, but are obliged to wear face masks and follow other COVID-mitigating protocols.

One of the first US firms to fire staff for flouting a vaccine mandate, CNN hit the headlines in early August when it terminated three employees for going into the office unvaccinated against COVID-19. CNN has a zero tolerance policy in place for staff who break the rule.

Unsurprisingly, given its pivotal role in getting the world inoculated against COVID-19, Pfizer, which won the vaccine race in December when its COVID shot became the first to garner FDA approval, revealed in early August that it would require every single one of its US employees and contractors to get vaccinated or agree to weekly testing.

Following in the footsteps of other major US tech companies, Microsoft announced in early August that it would make vaccination mandatory for “all employees, vendors, and any guests entering Microsoft buildings in the US”, effective from September. The rule will not apply to staff who are exempt on medical, religious, or other valid grounds.

Also in early August, Tyson Foods — America's biggest meatpacking firm — instructed its workforce of 120,000 that they would have to be fully vaxxed to work in any of its facilities across the country. This includes the company's offices, slaughterhouses, and poultry processing plants. The deadline has been set for 1 November and frontline workers who get inoculated are being rewarded with a $200 bonus.

United Airlines was the first US carrier to implement a blanket vaccine mandate for all its employees (Delta's mandate only applies to new hires). According to the edict, its 67,000 staff must show proof of vaccination by 25 October or five weeks after the FDA grants the Pfizer vaccine full approval, whichever comes first. Now that the FDA has approved the Pfizer shot, the airline's employees had until Monday (27 September) to provide that proof or lose their jobs. The airline says 593 staff now facing losing their jobs after failing to show proof of vaccination or provide a reason for exemption.

Starting in September, Equinox Group, the luxury fitness company behind brands including SoulCycle, PURE Yoga and Precision Run, is requiring all members, riders, and employees to be vaccinated before they enter its fitness studios. The mandate will apply to the firm's New York facilities at first before extending to other locations.

In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that all Department of Education employees must have had at least one COVID-19 vaccination by 26 September. The New York school district is the largest in the US, employing roughly 148,000 staff. Now that the FDA has approved the Pfizer vaccine for people aged 16 and over, local universities – including the State University of New York and City University of New York – have also announced vaccine mandates. These are applicable to both staff and students. 

On 24 August, the Pentagon revealed that all active-duty troops will need to be vaccinated. The announcement, which was put on hold until the Pfizer vaccine was approved, follows President Biden’s order that federal employees must show proof of vaccination or consent to regular COVID testing. According to official figures, the mandate will affect 2.1 million federal civilian employees and 1.4 million active-duty US troops.

Following outbreaks of COVID amongst oil rig workers, Chevron has become one of the first oil companies to issue a vaccine mandate to its employees. The mandate applies to workers on its ships and oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some onshore support professionals. While other companies such as Exxon Mobil and Devon Energy have introduced mask mandates or vaccine incentives, Chevron is paving the way by making vaccination compulsory.

On 23 August, CVS Health Corp announced that all customer-facing employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The policy will apply to nurses, pharmacists, and corporate staff. While office workers have until the end of October to get their first vaccine, pharmacists at retail stores have an extended deadline of 30 November. CVS previously said that all employees must continue to wear facemasks at work, even if they have already been vaccinated.

AEG Presents, the live entertainment business behind Coachella and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (pictured), has announced that all staff and ticketholders must show proof of vaccination from 1 October. Previously, its policy enabled people to opt for regular COVID tests instead, but its latest statement overrides this and vaccination will be compulsory unless ‘limited... by law’. AEG Presents will not be able to enforce its policy in Alabama as the state has made it illegal for companies to require their employees to get the vaccine. 

 

America's inter-city railroad service, Amtrak, has announced that its 17,500 employees must be vaccinated by 1 November or agree to weekly COVID-19 testing. As of 4 October, all new recruits will need to prove that they have had the vaccine. In a note to his employees, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn wrote: "Vaccines are a critical tool to bring the pandemic under control."

Multinational bank Citigroup is insisting that employees get vaccinated before returning to its offices. According to a LinkedIn post from Citi's head of human resources, Sara Wechter, workers in New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington DC must return to the office at least two days a week and show proof of vaccination, starting from 13 September.

Car company Ford has brought in a vaccine mandate for employees who travel internationally. Although these are the only employees who are required to get the shot, the manufacturer will "strongly encourage all team members who are medically able to get the vaccine" to do so, according to an email. Meanwhile, the United Auto Workers union has announced that it will reinstate mask mandates at its facilities around the US.

Fast food giant McDonald's has served up a vaccine mandate to its corporate employees. Although restaurant workers won't be required to get the shot, all office-based workers must be able to prove that they're fully vaccinated by 27 September. The corporation has also pushed back its office opening date to 11 October to give people more time to get the vaccine.

In May 2020, the social media company Twitter said that employees could choose to work from home indefinitely. Those who decide to return to its offices in New York and San Francisco, however, must show proof of vaccination before entering the building.

Media conglomerate ViacomCBS has created a color-coded system for its return to normality. The company has delayed the 'green phase' of its post-pandemic recovery – which will see all workers return to the office – until 10 January 2022. By that point, all ViacomCBS employees must be fully vaccinated. The firm has already launched its 'yellow phase', during which select on-site workers must also show proof of vaccination. 

 

AT&T, the world's largest telecommunications company, has announced that union-represented employees must show proof of vaccination before returning to the office. More than 150,000 AT&T employees are represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union. These workers have until 1 February 2022 to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a policy that was introduced a month after the business made vaccination compulsory for its management staff. 

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