This week Microsoft announced that it would require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to return to work in person.  

The tech giant also said it would push its return to in-office work back by nearly a month, to October 4.  

As reported by the Seattle Times, the company will "require proof of vaccination for all employees, vendors, and any guests entering Microsoft buildings in the U.S."  

WHY IT MATTERS  

Microsoft had originally planned to open its offices back to in-person work in July before announcing two different delays.

Now, in addition to the new October reopening, it says caregivers of immunosuppressed people or children who are too young to receive a vaccine can continue to work from home until January.   

The company said it would also have a process in place to accommodate people who cannot get a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons, or who have another "protected reason" (such as religion) for doing so.  

Meanwhile, Google announced its own vaccine mandate last week, saying anyone coming to work in its U.S. offices will need to be vaccinated.   

"You’ll get guidance from your local leads about how this will affect you, and we’ll also share more details on an exceptions process for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other protected reasons," wrote CEO Sundar Pichai in a blog post.  

Google said it, too, would be extending its global voluntary work-from-home policy through mid-October.  

"We’ll continue watching the data carefully and let you know at least 30 days in advance before transitioning into our full return to office plans," Pichai wrote. "We’re also extending Expanded Carer’s Leave through the end of the year for parents and caregivers."  

THE LARGER TREND

Amid a countrywide lag in COVID-19 vaccinations and a spike in case numbers, the onus has fallen on private companies to wield their own incentives for getting inoculated – or consequences for refusing to do so.

Late last week, electronic health record vendor Epic announced that it would require all U.S. employees to be fully vaccinated by October. Kaiser Permanente, too, will require all employees to be vaccinated, as will Facebook and Tyson Foods.

Other companies have not yet implemented such mandates, but have announced hybrid policies that would allow employees to choose whether to work from home or the office.

ON THE RECORD  

"As we have done since the beginning of the pandemic, we continue to closely track new developments and adapt our plans as this situation evolves, keeping employee health and safety top of mind," said Microsoft in a statement.

Kat Jercich is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Twitter: @kjercich
Email: kjercich@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.