Vaccine mandates exacerbate class divide
Inequality,Polarization,Class Warfare,Coronavirus,Coronavirus Vaccine,Vaccine Mandates
Corporate America's patchwork approach to vaccine requirements is deepening the pandemic's class divides.
Why it matters: New cases of coronavirus, driven by the Delta variant, are up 86% in the U.S. over the past two weeks. The rise in new infections has upended return to work plans for certain sectors of the economy, while others can't afford to change course.
State of play: Businesses that can and have operated remotely, like those in tech and financial services, are requiring vaccines for returning workers, while service and retail economy companies have stopped short of full workforce mandates.
The result: Workers are continuing to experience the pandemic unevenly. The people who can most afford to take time off if they get sick, or choose to work from home, are the ones required to get the vaccine, while service-sector workers in food and retail who do not have the same privileges, may be put more at risk.
