Starbucks ends vaccine requirement for US workers

Starbucks no longer requires its US employees to be vaccinated against covid 19. The company has reversed a policy it announced earlier this month. A memo was sent out to employees on Tuesday and it stated that the coffee giant was responding to last week's ruling by the US Supreme Court. The court rejected the Biden administration's vaccine mandate and testing policy for companies in a 6-3 vote.  John Culver, Starbucks' chief operating officer wrote in the memo, "We respect the court's ruling and will comply."

Starbucks' reversal of the vaccine mandate is one of the most high-profile corporate actions to the Supreme Court's decision. Many other big names like Target have stayed quiet about their plans, although some businesses said they would continue to require vaccines. On January 3rd, Starbucks said it required all employees to be vaccinated by February 9th or else they would have to face a weekly covid 19 test requirement. 

At the time, Culver wrote to the employees, "The vaccine is the best option we have, by far, when it comes to staying safe and slowing the spread of COVID-19. It's concerning to see this new variant has pushed daily COVID-19 case counts higher than the Delta wave at its peak." He added that it was the responsibility of the leaders at Starbucks to do everything to create the safest work environment possible. 

Source: CBS News