Boeing Backs Down, Drops Vaccine Mandate For U.S Employees

Boeing has suspended its mandate to provide coronavirus vaccinations for U.S. workers on Friday, following a U.S. District Court decision that halted President Joe Biden’s mandate for federal contractors.

Boeing is committed to maintaining a safe work environment and improving the safety and health of its global workforce. Boeing has now suspended its requirement for vaccinations after careful consideration. This was in accordance with a Federal Court’s decision that prohibits enforcement of the executive order of the federal contractor and other state laws.

Boeing workers joined other employees in protest against vaccine mandates last month. Boeing’s vaccine requirement was put into effect by Biden in October. He required federal contractors to vaccinate all employees and conduct regular testing. The original deadline for vaccination was December 8. However, the Biden Administration extended it to January 4.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia had earlier this month ordered the Biden administration not to enforce “all covered contracts in any territory or state of the United States of America.” Boeing vaccinated over 90 percent of its employees during the mandate.

An internal Boeing announcement stated that “Boeing’s success in vaccinating its employees to date places the company in a strong position to comply with the federal executive orders should they be reinstated in future.”

Over 11,000 Boeing employees applied for an exemption to the mandate based on religious or medical grounds. This number represents roughly nine percent of U.S. employees. Boeing joins other companies such as General Electric, HCA Healthcare, and Spirit AeroSystems that have recently suspended their vaccine requirements.