Vaccine policies could change
Most businesses aren’t mandating shots in Oklahoma — for now
While an increasing number of large businesses across the nation are implementing vaccine requirements for employees, many of Oklahoma’s most prominent companies are not.
Chesapeake Energy Corp., Devon Energy, Continental Resources, Homeland Stores, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, ONE GAS, Public
Service Co. of Oklahoma and others are just some Oklahoma-based companies that don’t require vaccines for employees. Some are offering financial incentives for those who choose to get vaccinated, but none have put in place a rule against being unvaccinated.
Paycom, the Oklahoma City-based HR software company, declined to comment on its vaccine and masking policies for employees less than a week after CEO Chad Richison criticized Gov. Kevin Stitt for signing Senate Bill 658, which Richison said, “took authority away from educational leaders to enact common-sense policies like requiring masks be worn.”
Another Oklahoma-based company, OnCue, also declined to comment on its policies, noting they are being reviewed.
But the decision not to mandate vaccines is not universal, as some of the biggest businesses across the nation in the tech, airline, food, retail and energy industries are beginning to require vaccines for some or all of their employees.
It’s a trend that could increase after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to use the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech to protect people against COVID-19.
“I think a lot of employers are going to look at that and say, ‘Let’s do what we can now to prevent what we had to go through last year,’” said attorney Adam W. Childers, a director at Crowe & Dunlevy who serves as co-chair of its labor and employment practice group.
Childers said the FDA’s approval of Pfizer’s Comirnaty (pronounced “koe-mir’-na-tee”) vacChilders cine will likely prompt
companies that had been taking a wait-and-see approach on vaccine mandates to forge ahead with their plans. He said he had recently received calls from manufacturing, banking and retail businesses about how to proceed with those plans.
Some of the prominent national companies to implement vaccine requirements include tech giants Microsoft, Google and Facebook, which said proof of vaccination for employees and visitors to their U.S. offices will be required.
Tyson Foods recently announced it will require all U.S. employees to get vaccinated by November — notable because, unlike the tech companies, Tyson relies on many lower-paid workers who cannot do their jobs remotely.
Walmart, while headquartered in Arkansas, is one of Oklahoma’s largest retailers. The company is requiring its corporate staff and managers who travel across the nation to be vaccinated by Oct. 4, and requiring frontline store, warehouse and distribution center workers to wear masks in areas where illness rates are high, regardless of their vaccination status.
Amazon, which operates multiple distribution facilities in Oklahoma, doesn’t have a vaccine mandate, but is requiring all of its 900,000 U.S. warehouse workers to wear masks indoors.
In the energy industry, Chevron is among the first integrated oil-and-gas producers to require vaccines for some of its workers, and refiner Valero Energy Corp. will require vaccines for certain field workers or new workers, according to Reuters.
United Airlines will require employees in the U.S. to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by late October, perhaps sooner. Frontier Airlines said employees must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1 or face “regular” testing for the virus.
Here in Oklahoma, perhaps the largest organizations to require vaccines are hospitals.
SSM Health St. Anthony and Mercy announced mandatory vaccine requirements for employees.
Mask, vaccine policies among major Oklahoma companies
After the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine Monday, The Oklahoman checked with numerous Oklahoma companies on their vaccination and mask-wearing policies.
Some continue to follow guidelines they established early on , while others indicated they are re-evaluating steps after this week’s vaccine approval. Here are some companies’ policies.
• Chesapeake Energy Corp.
Chesapeake has no vaccine requirement. Employees and campus guests are required to wear masks in indoor public areas, including conference rooms, the fitness center (when not working out) and when entering and exiting the business’ on-campus eating facility.
• Continental Resources
Continental Resources has no vaccine mandate. Masks are required in some situations, employees are asked to meet virtually where possible and to observe room capacity limits and other physical distancing protocols when virtual meetings aren’t possible. Employees also must undergo daily health screens including temperature checks.
• Devon Energy
Devon Energy doesn’t require employees to take the shots, but is offering a $500 payment to those who can show they are fully vaccinated by Oct. 15. At its corporate headquarters, Devon encourages social distancing and wearing masks when distancing isn’t possible. The building remains open to the public.
• Homeland Stores
Homeland doesn’t require a vaccine, but it does offer vaccinated employees a $100 bonus and paid time off. Employees are required to wear masks, work behind Plexiglass dividers and observe social distancing safety measures in its stores, plus to follow any additional local or state requirements.
• Love’s Travel Stops
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores doesn’t require a vaccine, but offers employees a $75 vaccination incentive.
Masks are recommended for corporate staff, and required for all of its customerfacing team members.
• Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.
OG&E has no vaccine requirement. Employees are required to wear masks in all indoor common areas and anywhere employees cannot maintain social distancing. Masks are optional for vaccinated employees working outdoors and for all outdoor employees where social distancing protocols can be observed.
• ONE GAS
ONE GAS, the parent of Oklahoma Natural Gas, does not require its employees to be vaccinated. Masks are required for corporate and field employees. Those who make service calls are required to limit their on-premises times and maintain social distancing protocols.
• Public Service Co. of Oklahoma
PSO does not require vaccines. Earlier this year, the company offered its employees a $100 incentive to get vaccinated. Those who work at an office must wear masks in all common areas and in corporate vehicles. Outdoor field workers must wear masks if they cannot maintain a 6-foot physical distance.