Carhartt may be one of the rare brands that appeals to both rural workers and urban hipsters with its rugged outdoor gear, but it now finds itself at the center of a controversy that is dividing its customer base: the workforce. Vaccine mandate.
Some customers are vowing to boycott Carhartt products after CEO Mark Valade's January 14 internal memo surfaced on social media. The memo focused on the Dearborn, Michigan-based company reacting to the Supreme Court's decision on the Biden administration's vaccine rules for a larger workforce - which was overruled by the High Court. Despite the ruling, Valade wrote, Carhartt would maintain its corporate policy of requiring its 5,500 employees to be vaccinated.
"Many of you have asked how the Supreme Court's recent decision on the OSHA mandate for large employers will affect our partners, so we want to provide some clarity," he wrote in the memo, which Carhartt confirmed as authentic. was meant to be. "The ruling does not change Carhart's mandatory vaccination schedule, which took effect on January 4.
He adds, "An unvaccinated workforce is both a people and business risk that our company is unwilling to take."
The memo has fueled both support and calls for the boycott, with divisions supporting consumer vaccination requirements or viewing them as an intrusion on individual liberties. Unvaccinated Americans are among the minority, given that 63% of the country is fully vaccinated. But according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, people who haven't been vaccinated are more likely to be in Republican-leaning areas.
One Twitter user called Carhart's vaccination stance "insane given their target market" and added that they were "buying any of their content." Another wrote that she was "impressed and I would buy from a company that cares about the safety of all its employees."
I spend thousands a year on @Carhartt hoodies, jackets & winter gear. Today that ends. I guess I am looking for alternatives. Seriously, this is insane given their target market. I am done purchasing any of their stuff and giving them thousands in free advertising. pic.twitter.com/kyHaNwlO6c
— TheQuartering (@TheQuartering) January 18, 2022
Even though the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had exceeded its limit on allowing employers with more than 100 employees to vaccinate or test their employees, private companies have Doesn't restrict its employees from necessity. According to legal experts, from getting the jab.
About 36% of Americans say their employers require them to get the COVID-19 vaccination, while another 43% say their bosses are encouraging the shot but not requiring it, Gallup found last month. . Companies including Citigroup and airlines such as United and Delta have established vaccine mandates for their employees.
Conservatives have traditionally supported the right of private companies to operate their businesses as they see fit, without government regulations calling the shots. Yet the issue of vaccinations and other COVID-19 health regulations has become deeply politicised, with some corporations aiming to sidestep the issue, saying they aim to help both workers and customers feel the worst effects of the coronavirus. to stop from.
Still, some conservatives had none of it: From "By Carhartt" to "By Carhartt" real quick!," tweeted conservative author Ashley St. Clair, who also called Carhartt's vaccine mandate a "medical tyranny." .
Went from “Buy Carhartt” to “Bye Carhartt” real quick!
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) January 18, 2022
Carhartt told CBS MoneyWatch that the "vast majority" of its employees have been vaccinated, and that she has waived some for medical and religious reasons.
"Carhartt made the decision to implement its own vaccine mandate as part of our long-term commitment to workplace safety," the company said in an emailed statement. "Our most recent communication to employees was to reinforce that the Supreme Court ruling does not affect the mandate we have imposed."
It added that it "fully understands and respects differing opinions on this topic, and we are aware that some of our partners do not support this policy."
Carhartt said it has extended the vaccination deadline to February 15.
"We stand behind our decision because we believe vaccines are essential to the safety of our employees," the company said in a statement.