This Fortune 50 tech company won’t make its employees get vaccinated

On September 9, the Biden administration announced the sweeping COVID-19 vaccine requirements that affect about 100 million Americans. The new measures also include a vaccine mandate for all federal workers and contractors and a requirement that large companies with more than 100 employees must mandate vaccines or regular testing for employees. Biden said companies that fail to comply could face fines of $14,000 per violation.

Since the policy came out, hospitals and major companies from airlines to tech companies including Microsoft, Google, and Facebook have enforced the new mandate policy. However, one company stands out and won’t enforce the vaccine mandates on its workforce. That company is Intel Corporation, the world’s largest chipmaker by revenue.

In a policy (PDF below) posted on its website on October 1, 2020, Intel states an FAQ section saying:

“Intel does not require COVID-19 vaccination for its workforce. If local requirements are different, workers must comply with these requirements. However, based on guidance from national and international health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), Intel strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccines approved by national health authorities. Vaccine availability will depend on local government distribution and prioritization plans.”

Below is a screenshot of the section.

That’s not all, in section 8.4 of the Policy, vaccinated employees cannot say they do not want to work with unvaccinated employees. Additionally, Intel FORBIDS managers from asking for vaccination status. (Policy 8.13).

Then in section 1.2 of the Policy, Intel ACCEPTS antibodies as a full substitute for vaccination for people who must quarantine after a Covid exposure or for travel requirements. Hats off to former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson who first spotted the policy.