Starbucks is canceling its previously announced vaccine mandate following the passing of a new U.S. Supreme Court decision, which rejected U.S. President Joe Biden's vaccine and testing mandate for large businesses. The coffee chain said Wednesday that it would no longer be requiring employees to get vaccinated or to submit to weekly testing.
Earlier in the month, Starbucks told employees that they had to get vaccinated before a Feb. 9 deadline. The company said during that time that the order was to comply with the guidance published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Under its mandate, employees that failed to get vaccinated after the deadline will be required to submit to weekly testing.
Following the Supreme Court decision last week, Starbucks sent a new memo telling employees that it would be adjusting its requirements. Starbucks' chief operating officer and president of Starbucks North America, John Culver, said that the company would comply with the Supreme Court's ruling.
The memo said that employees would no longer need to comply with its previously announced Feb. 9 deadline, and those left unvaccinated will not have to be tested weekly. Culver said in the note that the company is still encouraging all employees to get vaccinated and for those that have already gotten vaccinated to get booster shots. He added that employees must still respect and follow local requirements where they are located.
Starbucks said its mask mandate will still be in effect, and all employees have to wear approved 3-ply medical masks at work, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Employees who have access to more protective masks, such as KN95, N95, and KF94 masks, are encouraged to use them when possible. Starbucks said it would no longer allow workers to use cloth masks unless they were being used to cover medical masks.
Starbucks, which claimed that more than 90% of its workers are now fully vaccinated, called on employees to disclose their vaccination status for the protection of other workers and customers.
Shortly after the Supreme Court submitted its ruling, Biden expressed his disappointment in the decision, stating that it had blocked a "common-sense" and "life-saving" mandate for employees working at large businesses. Biden added that his mandate was well-grounded in "both science and law."
With the Supreme Court's decision, major American businesses are now left to make their own decisions regarding their worker's vaccination status. Last week, General Electric also announced that it would be suspending its vaccine and testing mandate for its employees.
