Coronavirus: Starbucks preps weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees

Starbucks employees have received their marching orders.

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The company informed staffers on Monday that any employee who fails to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 10 could be subjected to weekly testing, Reuters reported.

According to CNBC, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is mandating that private companies with at least 100 employees enforce masking and weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated workers. The mandate is already being litigated, with the U.S. Supreme Court slated to hear oral arguments on the issue Friday.

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According to a Dec. 27 letter penned by Starbucks Chief Operating Officer John Culver, the contents of which were recirculated during a weekly update on Monday, the company’s roughly 220,000 employees have until Jan. 10 to disclose their vaccination status, Reuters reported

Meanwhile, OSHA extended its original deadline for applicable companies to Feb. 9, the news outlet reported.

In turn, Starbucks employees not already in compliance by the internal Jan. 10 status deadline have until Feb. 9 to receive their vaccinations, or they will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test no more than seven days before their next shift and then once a week thereafter, CNBC reported.

According to the network, unvaccinated employees will be responsible for procuring their own tests and submitting the results, but at-home tests are prohibited.

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