Bloomberg reported Saturday that T-Mobile U.S. will terminate staff who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by April 2, citing an internal email.
The move comes in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision on Jan. 13 blocking President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccination or testing mandate for large companies.
Deeanne King, T-Mobile's director of human resources, reportedly stated that employees who have received only one dose as of February 21 will be placed on unpaid leave.
T-Mobile's badge-controlled offices remain accessible "only to those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and we have communicated to employees that we will require office workers to be fully vaccinated by April 2," a T-Mobile representative told Engadget.
Employees who are not fully vaccinated by April 2 and do not receive the company's internal digital proof of vaccination "will be separated" from the company, the memo reportedly stated, adding that employees may request vaccine exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
Bloomberg noted that the policy applies to corporate employees who work in the office on a regular or ad hoc basis. Customer service representatives will reportedly be required to show proof of vaccination by February 21, but will not be placed on unpaid leave for failing to do so.
Additionally, Bloomberg disclosed that technicians and store employees will be exempt from the mandate, though the company continues to promote vaccination and frequent testing.
T-Mobile is far from the first technology company to require COVID-19 vaccinations, despite the Supreme Court's rejection of Biden's vaccine mandate for large employers.
Google gave employees until January 13 to provide proof of vaccination or submit an exemption, or face 30 days of administrative leave, followed by six months of unpaid leave and termination if they do not comply.
According to reports, Intel has notified employees that those who are still unvaccinated must obtain the COVID-19 vaccine or submit an exemption request by January 4. Otherwise, they risk being placed on unpaid leave, multiple reports indicate.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court temporarily halted the Biden Administration's requirement for large employers to comply with COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
General Electric and Starbucks are two large companies that have opted out of vaccine mandates in the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling.
Meanwhile, 56% of Americans believe employers should be required to provide vaccines, according to a Morning Consult survey done following the Supreme Court court decision.
Nearly 35% expressed opposition to such requirements.
