The chief executive officer of the company gestures while speaking during a discussion on artificial intelligence at a European economic think tank in Belgium. The U.S. and European Union need to coordinate their approaches to artificial intelligence.
According to internal documents viewed by CNBC, employees at the company have been told that they will lose their jobs if they don't comply with the company's Covid-19 vaccine policy.
The memo said that employees had until December 3 to declare their vaccinations, or apply for a medical or religious exemption. The company said after that date it would start contacting employees who hadn't uploaded their status or were unvaccinated, as well as those whose exemption requests weren't approved.
Employees who don't comply with the vaccine rules will be placed on paid administrative leave for 30 days. After that, the company will put them on paid personal leave for up to six months.
A person who answered a request for comment didn't reply.
In the new year, the workforce will be required to come into physical offices three days a week, in order to be able to work from home. It is showing limited patience for those who refuse to get the vaccines.
The Biden administration has ordered US companies with 100 or more workers to make sure their employees are tested for Covid-19 by January 18. A federal court stayed the order in early November, putting a halt to the administration's efforts.
Even though Biden ordered the company to follow his order, it asked its more than 150,000 employees to upload their vaccination status to its internal systems, even if they don't come into the office.
The memo said that almost all roles at the company would fall within the scope of the executive order. The company said that anyone entering a building must be fully vaccine free or have an approved accommodation that allows them to work or come on site.
Since the middle of the year, the company has been behind vaccines.
The company would require vaccinations for those coming back to work. The plan was to reopen in January. In early December, employees in the U.S. were told that they wouldn't have to return to work. However, leadership encouraged employees to come in where they can get to know their colleagues in person and regain their muscle memory of being in the office more regularly.
The vaccine mandate is not universally accepted by employees. The leadership of the company said that they would apply to all employees, even those working from home, who engage in federal government contracts.
Some options are available for people who don't want to get vaccine. If there are any roles that don't conflict with the executive order, employees can explore them. They can request exemptions for their religious beliefs or medical conditions, which was previously promised by the company.
The company said that employees with roles that fall outside of the scope of the executive order will be able to work remotely going forward.
Employees who are placed on personal leave will be able to keep their benefits for the first 92 days. If they don't comply with the mandate after six months, they will lose their job with the company.
The company isn't giving employees higher wages.
