Pfizer tells workers to get vaccinated by November 15 or face disciplinary action



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Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer recently told its employees they could face disciplinary action if they fail to comply with a company-wide vaccine mandate by an upcoming deadline.

In a September 21 memo first reported by WWMT in Michigan, a Pfizer executive reiterated that all U.S.-based employees and contractors must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 15, at unless they get a religious or medical exemption. The memo says employees are subject to disciplinary action, including the possibility of termination, if they fail to comply with the policy.

Pfizer first announced its company-wide vaccination mandate on August 4. At the time, company officials said all U.S. employees and contractors needed to be vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 tests.

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The Pfizer Inc. logo can be seen on the lab coat of an employee at the company’s research and development center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Pfizer is expected to release its quarterly results on October 27. (Scott Eisen / Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Pfizer said the company had warned of possible disciplinary action for those who failed to comply with the mandate since the requirement was implemented. The company acknowledged that the September 21 memo said employees could be made redundant if they are not vaccinated and given an exemption.

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The spokesperson said Pfizer was still working to determine what form disciplinary action might take, adding that the company would not necessarily fire all unvaccinated workers after the Nov. 15 deadline.

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ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FLORIDA, USA – 2021/08/18: A nurse gives a COVID-19 booster to Joe Rigdon at a vaccination site in Eastmonte Park, Altamonte Springs. The third injection was offered to immunocompromised people, with all the (Paul Hennessy / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Pfizer was the first company to receive FDA approval for its COVID-19 vaccine. In August, Pfizer spokesperson Pamela Eisele said the company’s internal vaccination policy was “to protect the health and safety of our colleagues and the communities we serve.”

In a separate employee memo dated Oct. 4, Pfizer notified U.S. employees of the changes to its overtime policy. The company will change its definition of overtime from hours tracked to hours worked, meaning workers must exceed 40 hours on site per week to be eligible for rate and a half or double pay.

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An employee who has remained anonymous told WWMT the change will result in lower wages for some workers. The Pfizer spokesperson said the policy changes would not affect overtime pay rates.

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