Better Latté Than Never: Starbucks Drops Vaccine Mandate For Its Employees

Giving zero Bucks about a strict vaccination requirement, Starbucks Corporation announced that it will no longer require employees to be vaccinated.

The prosperous coffee chain sent a companywide email to its employees (~220,000) on Tuesday (Jan. 18), via FoxBusiness, updating their policy of requiring proof of vaccination after the Biden administration advocated for businesses of over 100 employees or over to be inoculated or subject to weekly testing to retain employment.

After the Supreme Court officially rejected Biden's proposal — citing overreach concerns by OSHA — with a 6-3 vote, Starbucks and other large companies were put on notice to start shaping their guidelines according to SCOTUS' counsel, or President Biden's offered ruling.

The company stated at the beginning of the new year that all hires would be subject to OSHA's vaccine rule as of Jan. 9.

Starbucks Chief Operating Officer John Culver made the announcement and put the onus on the Supreme Court's decision rather than reject the largely unpopular OSHA mandate.

"We respect the court's ruling and will comply," Culver announced, sidestepping potential backlash from its base of green aprons and septum-pierced opponents.

Hindered by labor and supply shortages for the past two years, Starbucks is no longer restraining itself by following the Democratic playbook and making a surprising pivot from its hyper-progressive track record.

"I want to emphasize that we continue to believe strongly in the spirit and intent of the mandate," Culver also noted. "Thank you to the more than 90 percent of partners who have already disclosed their vaccination status, and to the vast majority who are now fully vaccinated."

By turning their backs to Biden and the Democrats' indefinite COVID restrictions, Starbucks is embracing a return to normalcy with this grande statement.

Follow along on Twitter: @AlejandroAveela