IBM: workers must be vaccinated or “put on unpaid leave”

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – IBM, one of the Triangle’s largest private sector employers, is demanding that workers be vaccinated by December 9 or be “on unpaid leave.”

An IBM spokesperson cited the high availability of vaccines as the reason in a statement provided to WRAL TechWire on Thursday.

The news reinforces a plan previously announced by IBM that workers must be vaccinated before they are allowed to return to their offices.

Earlier Thursday, Red Hat – which is part of IBM – told its employees that vaccinations would be needed or that employees and contractors would lose their jobs.

Red Hat CEO: Employees must be vaccinated or lose their jobs

“As we have said throughout the pandemic, IBM’s health and safety practices are guided by science. Given the continued spread of COVID-19, local clinical conditions around IBM sites, and the fact that vaccines are readily available across the country, we will now require all IBM employees in the United States to be fully immunized. by Dec. 8, ”Carrie Bendzsa, US Markets and Regional Communications Manager for IBM Americas, said TechWire.

“This applies to IBM employees in the United States, regardless of where they work and how often they visit an IBM office. If an employee is not vaccinated by the deadline, they will be placed on unpaid leave effective December 9, 2021.

CNBC reported that IBM sent a note to employees citing federal requirements as the reason for the vaccination mandate.

“As a federal contractor, it is imperative for IBM to comply with this mandate,” the company said, as reported by CNBC. “In light of this requirement, the policies of many of our customers and partners, and easy access to vaccines across the country, we will now require all IBM employees in the United States to be fully immunized from here December 8, 2021, to work at IBM.

IBM and Red Hat join the SAS based in Cary among the companies requiring vaccinations to continue working.

IBM has some 8,000 employees at its Triangle campus, according to the Triangle Business Journal’s Book of Lists, and others throughout the state. Worldwide, IBM employs more than 340,000 people.

IBM requires employees to be vaccinated before returning to office, report says