Stellantis suspends vaccine mandate for U.S. workers

Non-union salaried workers for Stellantis N.V. in the United States will not be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to keep their jobs after all. The carmaker said on Thursday that a vaccine mandate has been suspended. 

The mandate was issued by Stellantis after the Biden administration issued a federal emergency temporary standard under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s authority. A Supreme Court ruling earlier this month struck down the mandate that would require employers with more than 100 staff to enforce mandatory vaccinations. Employees for Stellantis represented by UAW were not under the mandate. 

When it was announced in November, employees would have needed to receive the final shot by Jan. 5 to remain at their positions. At that time, approximately 80% of the Stellantis workforce was inoculated.

A statement released by Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson read, “Due to the tremendous support and response we have received to the vaccine requirement — with more than 97% of our U.S. salaried non-represented workforce in compliance or with an approved exemption — the company has decided to suspend the full implementation of the vaccine mandate.”

“We continue to encourage all employees to get vaccinated and, when eligible, boosted as the most effective way to prevent serious COVID-19 illness. We will continue to monitor the situation and the guidance of public health authorities to make any modifications necessary to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect our workforce,” according to the company statement.

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