With the surge of the Delta variant causing a new wave of COVID-19 infections and waning interest in voluntary vaccinations, it would appear big tech has finally had enough. AT&T, Inc. has joined other giants in tech in requiring employees in management to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as the Delta variant spreads across its home state Texas and the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In a memo on Thursday, the carrier told management employees they would need to be fully vaccinated by October 11. Additionally, AT&T will require face masks at company locations per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest guidance.
The new AT&T position follows mandates at both Google and Facebook. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, said the company is rolling out a new policy requiring anyone coming to work on its campuses to be vaccinated, subject to local vaccine availability and regulations. Additionally, Google extended its global voluntary work-from-home policy through October 18.
“Getting vaccinated is one of the most important ways to keep ourselves and our communities healthy in the months ahead,” Pichai said. “We recognize that many Googlers are seeing spikes in their communities caused by the Delta variant and are concerned about returning to the office.”
Facebook will require anyone coming to work at its U.S. offices to be vaccinated, as well, according to National Public Radio.
“How we implement this policy will depend on local conditions and regulations. We will have a process for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons and will be evaluating our approach in other regions as the situation evolves,” Lori Goler, Facebook’s Vice President of People, wrote in a statement.
Another tech heavyweight Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) will be requiring all team members, contractors, and visitors to be fully vaccinated as a condition of entering its sites and attending business events, Antonio Nerim, HPE President and CEO, said in a tweet.
“Throughout this pandemic, we have continually assessed the ever-changing dynamic; we have addressed what we can control; and we have adapted. It is now clear that COVID-19 is going to be with us for a while and that getting back to normal will take more than masks and distancing,” Neri said. “I don’t take this decision lightly but believe it is in the best interest of our company, our team members, and the communities we serve, all of whom depend on our ability to adapt and lead.”
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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