Intel now requires its employees who have not been vaccinated to receive the COVID-19 vaccine immediately by January 4, 2022. Otherwise, they will have to go on unpaid leave.
Intel's rules are similar to the rules that Google enforces, but more stringent. In a memo sent by Intel HRD boss Christy Pambianchi on December 7, employees who cannot be vaccinated are required to include an exemption letter.
Or it could be by doing a swab test once a week even if they work from home. The exemption letter from these employees will be reviewed on March 15, 2022.
Now, if Intel doesn't approve this letter, then the employee will be forced to leave without pay for at least three months starting April 4. But Intel promised not to fire its employees, and they still get health insurance.
Previously, Intel had set a time limit for employees who had not been vaccinated, namely January 4, 2022. However, they had not yet determined the sanctions that would be imposed on employees who did not want to be vaccinated.
This new regulation was set by Intel to follow a mandate from US President Joe Biden, which requires employees at companies with more than 100 employees to be vaccinated.
Previously, Google also sent memos to its employees to provide proof of vaccinations or exemptions. If they don't provide the data by January 13, the employees will be forced to take 30 days of leave, and if within those 30 days they still don't meet the requirements, they will be forced to take up to six months without pay, and then fired.
"As we've stated before, our mandatory vaccinations are one of the most important ways we can keep employees safe and keep our services running," said Lora Lee Erickson, a Google spokesperson.
"We are committed to doing everything we can to help our employees get vaccinated, and we will stick with our vaccination policy," he added.