Google and Facebook are two of the first big tech companies to require all employees at their U.S. campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19, The Wall Street Journal reported July 28.
Google and Facebook join a growing number of organizations that are implementing vaccine mandates as the coronavirus delta variant drives up cases and hospitalizations across the country. More than 60 hospitals and health systems have begun requiring COVID-19 vaccination for employees.
Along with the vaccination mandate, Google is also delaying its return to campus until mid-October; the tech giant had planned to bring back most staff at the end of September, according to the report.
Accommodations will be made for Google employees who can't be vaccinated for medical reasons or other protected reasons, but those who are against vaccines for political reasons will be asked to continue working from home and speak with human resources regarding their options, according to the report.
Facebook employees coming to work on any of its U.S. campuses will be required to be vaccinated, but the social media company is leaving policy implementations up to local regulations. Facebook does have a process for working with staff who choose not to receive the vaccine for medical or other reasons, according to the report.