According to internal documents obtained by Media magazine on Tuesday, Google has instructed its staff that if they do not comply with the company's COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, they will lose their salary and eventually be fired.
According to the article, Google's leadership instructed employees in a memo that they had until December 3 to disclose their vaccination status and upload proof of immunization, or seek a medical or religious exemption.
According to CNBC, Google said that after that date, it will begin contacting employees who had not supplied proof of vaccination or who were unvaccinated, as well as those whose exemption requests had been denied.
Employees who don't comply with the vaccine guidelines by the deadline of Jan. 18 will be placed on "paid administrative leave" for 30 days, followed by "unpaid personal leave" for up to six months, and eventually termination, according to CNBC.
When reached for comment, Google declined to comment on the letter, instead stating that the business's policy is in place to safeguard its employees and the company. Many of the businesses that require vaccinations have predominantly office workers who are mostly vaccinated and are hesitant to work with individuals who aren't.
Employees at Google have been irritated by the company's return-to-work policy. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, stated in July that the business will mandate vaccinations for employees returning to work. However, the corporation put its intentions to return to the office on hold earlier this month because to concerns about a spike in infection rates caused by the omicron variety.
Most staff would be required to work from their offices at least three days a week, according to the company's plans. Twenty percent of the organization would operate remotely under the new arrangement. Another 20% could be able to work from new locations. The remaining 60% would continue to work from their regular office.
Employees have also expressed dissatisfaction with anticipated salary cuts as a result of the company's decision to move to smaller markets.
Workers are encouraged to 'oppose the mandate as a matter of principle,' and not to let the mandate affect their decision to be immunized.
Employees were given until November 12 to request vaccine exemptions and starting January 10, they will be expected to work three days a week in the office.
In a blog post published in July, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the company's requirement that employees be completely vaccinated before returning in person. Pichai remarked at the time, "Getting vaccinated is one of the most critical methods to keep ourselves and our communities healthy in the months ahead."
Health experts in various nations are warning of a 'tidal wave' of illnesses this year and in the first quarter of 2022, as this type is said to be the most infectious of all. Because the variety contains numerous changes that allow the virus to evade antibodies, it is expected that some people will develop breakthrough infections or re-infections despite being vaccinated. In this light, it also spells doom for children, as many have resumed in-person schools, and the resultant crowds make them easy targets for diseases. India has yet to authorize vaccines for children and is said to be considering trial data presented by Bharat Biotech on child tests. Boosters have also been denied by the technical committee, ostensibly because dosages must be prioritized for people who have not yet been immunized.
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