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Vaccination

Adobe and IBM Mandate Vaccines for US Employees, Issuing Deadlines and Warning of Consequences

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Adobe recently announced that all US staff members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 8, warning those who refuse will face unpaid leave. The move was prompted by President Joe Biden's executive order requiring federal contractors to have their employees vaccinated. Adobe's Chief People Officer, Gloria Chen, stated that 93.5% of US employees who responded to an internal survey are either in the process of getting the COVID-19 vaccine or fully vaccinated. Employees seeking religious and medical exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. This decision comes two weeks after IBM issued a similar vaccine mandate for its US employees, stating that those who are not vaccinated by December 8 will face unpaid suspension. However, IBM employees who are removed from payroll after the deadline will still be eligible for the company's 401K matching program.

Key Takeaways:

  • Adobe has mandated that all US staff members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 8, with those who refuse facing unpaid leave.
  • The decision was prompted by President Joe Biden's executive order requiring federal contractors to have their employees vaccinated, as Adobe has software package contracts with various government agencies.
  • An internal survey conducted by Adobe revealed that 93.5% of US employees who responded are either in the process of getting the COVID-19 vaccine or fully vaccinated.
  • Employees seeking religious and medical exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • IBM also issued a vaccine mandate for its US employees, stating that those who are not vaccinated by December 8 will face unpaid suspension.
  • IBM employees who are removed from payroll after the deadline will still be eligible for the company's 401K matching program.
  • The government is working on COVID vaccination guidelines for businesses with 100 or more employees, requiring staff members to be fully vaccinated or have unvaccinated employees receive COVID-19 tests at least once a week.

Statistics:

  • 93.5% of US employees who responded to Adobe's internal survey are either in the process of getting the COVID-19 vaccine or fully vaccinated (Adobe internal survey, date not specified).
  • Adobe has software package contracts with various government agencies (CNBC, https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/22/adobe-mandates-vaccines-for-us-employees-by-december-8.html).
  • IBM employees who are removed from payroll after the deadline will still be eligible for the company's 401K matching program (IBM, https://www.ibtimes.com/ibm-wants-employees-vaccinated-dec-8-or-face-unpaid-suspension-3311788?utm_source=feeds_ibt&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=_content).
  • The government is working on COVID vaccination guidelines for businesses with 100 or more employees (IBT, https://www.ibtimes.com/spirit-airlines-will-give-employees-covid-19-testing-option-wont-mandate-vaccines-3312991?utm_source=feeds_ibt&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=_content).

Sources:

  • CNBC, "Adobe mandates vaccines for US employees by December 8", https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/22/adobe-mandates-vaccines-for-us-employees-by-december-8.html
  • IBT, "IBM wants employees vaccinated by Dec. 8 or face unpaid suspension", https://www.ibtimes.com/ibm-wants-employees-vaccinated-dec-8-or-face-unpaid-suspension-3311788?utm_source=feeds_ibt&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=_content
  • IBM, "IBM says all US employees must be vaccinated or face unpaid suspension", https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/07/ibm-says-all-us-employees-must-be-vaccinated-or-face-unpaid-suspension.html
  • IBT, "Spirit Airlines will give employees COVID-19 testing option, won't mandate vaccines", https://www.ibtimes.com/spirit-airlines-will-give-employees-covid-19-testing-option-wont-mandate-vaccines-3312991?utm_source=feeds_ibt&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=_content

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