IBM said Thursday that it requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 8, or they will face unpaid suspensions.
It comes in the light of US President Joe BidenLast month’s mandate to vaccinate all federal employees and contractors.
IBM, a federal contractor, has thousands of US employees.
IBM previously said it would allow only fully vaccinated US employees to return to offices. However, the new policy applies to all US employees, even those working from home. Some, however, may claim exemption from the rule on medical and religious grounds.
With the resurgence of cases due to the delta version of the coronavirus, major tech companies including Facebook Inc, Google and Microsoft Corp have also made vaccination mandatory for employees.
President Joe Biden stepped up his campaign to pressure private employers to enforce coronavirus vaccination mandates in a visit to a Chicago suburb, saying the shots would save lives and boost the economy.
“I’m calling on more employers to act,” Biden said Thursday in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. My message is that your employees need to be vaccinated. With vaccinations, we’re going to defeat this pandemic. “
Biden is calling for an increase in vaccination rates as public approval for his handling of the pandemic is falling. The president said his administration would soon issue rules to implement a plan he announced last month to require businesses with more than 100 employees to ensure workers are fully vaccinated or Facing weekly tests.
Many places across the country, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City, require people to show proof of vaccination to enter a variety of businesses and locations.
Don’t miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!
.