By Chip Cutter and Sarah Krouse
Some of America's largest businesses say they will encourage --
but not mandate -- employees to get Covid-19 vaccines, using a mix
of incentives and consequences to ensure as many workers as
possible are inoculated.
Facebook Inc., Marriott International Inc., and Discover
Financial Services are among big employers saying they will urge
vaccinations and highlight the benefits of doing so but stop short
of requiring them. Covid-19 vaccines are likely to be available to
anyone in the U.S. who wants one by the end of the second quarter,
federal officials said this week.
Some employers plan to provide 401(k) or other cash incentives
to staff, as they do to encourage use of other wellness benefits,
or bar unvaccinated employees from certain activities. Several
executives have said they would offer their corporate facilities to
public-health officials as vaccine administration sites in making
shots convenient for workers.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last week released
guidance noting that employers can generally require their workers
to get vaccinated and may ask employees for proof that they have
done so. Employers are bound to accommodate employees who object
because of religious beliefs or because they have a medical
condition that makes it unsafe for them to get a vaccine.
Human-resources leaders and chief executives say they aren't
mandating vaccinations because they want to respect the views of
those who lack confidence in the new vaccines, avoid liability if
there are adverse reactions and not infringe on religious or
personal beliefs. The approach is similar to how large companies
often handle seasonal flu shots, though this vaccine targets a
novel virus that shut down many workplaces across the country,
corporate medical advisers say.
During a virtual all-staff meeting at Facebook this month, CEO
Mark Zuckerberg said, at this time, the company doesn't plan to
require employees to get vaccinated before returning to its
offices, according to people in attendance. Mr. Zuckerberg added
that he plans to take the vaccine himself and is confident in
it.
Credit-card giant Discover Financial Services will encourage as
many employees who can safely get the vaccine to do so, said Andy
Eichfeld, chief human resources and administrative officer, but
won't require it as a condition of staying employed. "That's just
not how we operate," he said.
Discover and Facebook are among companies allowing staff to
continue working remotely until at least the summer of 2021. Many
executives say a return to offices will likely be at a staggered
pace and involve masks, social distancing and other safety
protocols -- even after a vaccine is broadly available.
Almost half of 30 large employers who responded to a Dec. 3 poll
from employee benefits industry group Employer Health Innovation
Roundtable said they weren't considering a vaccine mandate. Another
24% said they were addressing the issue on a state-by-state or
county-by-county basis.
Verizon Communications Inc.'s human resources chief, Christy
Pambianchi, told staff recently that when a vaccine is available,
doses will be fully covered by the company's health-insurance plan.
The wireless carrier hasn't yet told workers whether or not they
are required to get vaccinated.
Some companies, including New York commercial real-estate
company SquareFoot Inc., say they will give employees paid time off
next year for the shots. SquareFoot will also cover costs
associated with the shot, said Michael Colacino, the company's
president. Corporate medical advisers say companies should plan for
some workers to need sick days after receiving doses, if they have
fevers or other side effects.
Industrial conglomerate Emerson Electric Co. considered
requiring all 90,000 employees to get the vaccine but ultimately
decided a mandate wasn't in line with the company's culture and
would cause unneeded blowback from the press and workers.
"We can mandate it, but that would be the wrong way to go," said
CEO David Farr. "We wouldn't get the best results that way."
Instead, Emerson plans to reward employees who get vaccinated
and place activity limits on those who don't. It is considering a
contribution to workers' 401(k) retirement accounts or gift cards
to spend at local businesses. Those who don't get the shot won't be
able to travel or attend company events that include gathering, he
said.
"Here is the carrot, and here is the stick," Mr. Farr said.
Emerson expects some of its workers will have little choice because
customers may require the vaccine for people entering their
facilities.
Some corporate leaders are still considering how to proceed.
Duke Energy Corp. CEO Lynn J. Good said at a virtual gathering of
business leaders hosted by a Yale School of Management professor
last week that it was too soon to decide upon a mandate, but that
the company would look closely at requiring vaccination for
customer-facing employees.
American Airlines Group Inc. CEO Doug Parker said at the same
virtual event a decision about mandating vaccinations would be
based on the vaccine distribution and acceptance rates. Airlines
need to plan for potential country mandates, he added.
Discussions are under way at Marriott International about
whether the company could bring vaccine providers into its bigger
hotels to administer the shots, CEO Arne Sorenson said at a Wall
Street Journal event earlier this month. The company hasn't yet
decided whether the vaccines should be required, he said.
"I think all of us know that we need to respect personal
freedoms and liberty," Mr. Sorenson said. "But at the same time, we
need to make sure we're protecting each other."
Thomas Gryta and Kathryn Dill contributed to this article.
Write to Chip Cutter at chip.cutter@wsj.com and Sarah Krouse at
sarah.krouse@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 21, 2020 09:51 ET (14:51 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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