Carhartt has implemented a vaccine mandate for its employees, leaving some workers and customers distraught over the decision. The brand, beloved by both blue-collar workers and indie workwear enthusiasts, announced in an email to employees that its vaccination policy requires all workers to be vaccinated by February 15.
“We put workplace safety at the very top of our priority list and the Supreme Court's recent ruling doesn't impact that core value,” Carhartt CEO Mark Valade wrote in the email, referencing the Supreme Court’s recent decision to block the Biden administration from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large employers. “We, and the medical community, continue to believe vaccines are necessary to ensure a safe working environment for every associate and even perhaps their households. While we appreciate that there may be differing views, workplace safety is an area where we and the union that represents our associates cannot compromise,” he continued. “An unvaccinated workforce is both a people and business risk that our company is unwilling to take.”
