Yet again growing cases of Covid seem to be having effects at different levels!
Leading retailers and brands are now in the process of taking strong steps against their staff who are still not vaccinated.
Global sportswear brand Nike has, reportedly, told some employees that it plans to fire them if they have not met the company’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
There are reports that retail giant has had a vaccine mandate since October and has given employees time until 15 January to either get a vaccine or receive a medical or religious exemption.
Nike employed approximately 73,000 people worldwide in 2021 and about 120 employees have objected to the company’s mandate through online communications.
As per media reports, the company’s e-mail says, “You failed to complete the verification process and our records show that you do not have an approved (exemption). As a result, you are not in compliance with the policy and your employment is scheduled to be terminated on Saturday, 15 January 2022.”
Columbia Sportswear is also expected to take a similar stance with its employees beginning 1 February. Nice Kicks reported VF Corp., amongst other apparel brands, will do the same.
Just a few days back, Macy’s also began requesting the vaccination statuses of employees.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a vaccine-or-testing requirement for large employers.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) which had joined more than 26 other trade associations this week to present oral arguments before the court on the legality of the mandate, issued a statement, “While NRF has maintained a strong and consistent position related to the importance of vaccines in helping to overcome this pandemic, the Supreme Court’s decision to stay OSHA’s onerous and unprecedented ETS is a significant victory for employers.”
