Walmart demands head office staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 4, while Disney gives employees at all US locations 60 days

Coronavirus Update: CDC releases data that informed face mask review, says delta variant of COVID means ‘war has changed’

The measures are part of a series of sweeping measures announced on Friday by the country’s largest retailer and private employer to help curb the spread of the virus and get more of its workers to get vaccinated.

The vaccination mandate excludes frontline workers, who the company says have a lower vaccination rate than management. But he hopes that the executives, who represent only a fraction of his 1.5 million employees, will serve as inspiration.

“We hope this will influence even more of our frontline associates to get vaccinated,” Walmart spokesperson Scott Pope said.

Pope declined to announce vaccination rates for frontline workers and the rest of Walmart employees.

Walmart is also encouraging customers to wear masks in stores located in areas where cases are increasing and will be adding signs at entrances. He will also bring back so-called health ambassadors who will be stationed at the entrances and hand out masks.

The company is also doubling to $ 150 the incentive it offers workers in stores and clubs, as well as other facilities like distribution centers, to obtain the vaccine. Those who have already received the $ 75 incentive will receive an additional $ 75 on their August 19 paycheque.

To see: Vaccinations increase in some US states with spike in infections

The steps come three days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed course on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wear masks indoors in parts of the United States where the delta variant of the coronavirus fuels outbreaks of infection.

Walmart’s decision to require employees to be vaccinated at its headquarters follows Google’s GOOG,
-0.97%

GOOGL,
-0.77%
measures announced earlier in the week that it will postpone most workers’ return to offices until mid-October and roll out a policy that will ultimately force everyone to get vaccinated once its sprawling campuses are fully reopened . Google’s announcement was closely followed by Facebook FB,
-0.56%,
who also said he will make vaccines mandatory for U.S. employees who work in offices.

Exceptions will be made for medical and other reasons.

Various government agencies have already announced demands for all their employees to be vaccinated, but the corporate world has so far taken a more cautious approach, even though most lawyers believe the warrants are legal.

Delta DAL,
-3.23%
and United Airlines UAL,
-3.65%
require new employees to present proof of vaccination. SG Goldman Sachs,
-0.71%
and Morgan Stanley MS,
-0.31%
require their employees to disclose their immunization status, but do not require employees to be immunized.

However, given Walmart’s disproportionate influence on the economy, more companies could make similar announcements.

In fact, following Walmart’s announcement, Disney DIS,
-1.31%
said on Friday it was demanding that all salaried and non-union hourly workers in the United States working at any of its sites be fully immunized. He said workers who are not already vaccinated and who are working on site will have 60 days from Friday to complete their protocols. Those still working from home will need to provide an immunization check before they return. Disney also said all new hires will need to be fully vaccinated before they start working.

“Vaccines are the best tool we all have to help control this global pandemic and protect our employees,” Disney said in a statement. Disney has around 200,000 employees, but it is not known how many of them are affected. The company, based in Burbank, Calif., Did not answer questions.

Kroger KR grocery chain,
-0.05%
announced on Friday that it will encourage all customers, workers and suppliers, including those who have received the vaccine, to wear masks in its stores. But the company said it would not issue a vaccine warrant to its employees.

Ken Perkins, president of retail research firm Retail Metrics, said Walmart’s move could serve as a “green light” for other companies to demand vaccines, given its large number of customers and of its location.

“He’s based in the middle of the country,” Perkins said. “They are aimed at low- and middle-income buyers and workers.”

Walmart’s drastically shifting policy reflects growing concern over rising infection rates.

“We continue to monitor with deep concern the evolution of the pandemic and the spread of the variants, in particular the delta variant,” wrote Donna Morris, director of human resources at Walmart, in the memo distributed to employees that was shared. by the company. “We know that vaccinations are our solution to drive change. We urge you to get vaccinated and hope that many more of you get vaccinated. “

In a separate note sent to employees who work at the company headquarters, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon wrote: “The virus is not over and the delta variant has resulted in increased infection rates in one. much of the United States.

The retailer saw a “positive response” to the first financial incentive and expects the sugary benefit will lead to a similar response from workers, Pope said.

He stopped before saying that office workers who refused to be vaccinated would be fired, but said Walmart was following the process. He noted that the exceptions would be those who cannot get vaccinated for medical or religious reasons.

When asked why frontline workers would not be required to get vaccinated, Pope said his approach with his large number of workers in frontline facilities has been to “educate them, encourage them, their make it easier and then reward them financially for choosing to receive the vaccine.

Walmart said it is also implementing a new vaccine status verification process for U.S. workers. He says he will share these details in the future.

To see: As CDC overturns mask guidelines, Apple, Costco, Walmart and more have some soul searching to do

Days after the CDC relaxed mask-wearing guidelines for fully vaccinated people in May, Walmart, along with many other retailers, said it would not require vaccinated shoppers to wear masks in stores. Americans, unless state or local laws say otherwise. Walmart also said vaccinated workers could do without masks.

At that time, Walmart said that customers would not be invited but rather held to an “honor system” regarding their vaccination status. Walmart employees who did not wear masks were also required to confirm they were vaccinated by completing a daily questionnaire, although it did not require proof.