Over 600 Google Employees Sign Manifesto Against COVID Vaccine Mandate

At least 600 Google employees have signed an internal manifesto calling for the Silicon Valley tech giant to rescind its Covid-19 vaccine mandate, according to CNBC, citing internal documents.

The manifesto within Google, which has been signed by at least 600 Google employees, asks company leaders to retract the vaccine mandate and create a new one that is “inclusive of all Googlers,” arguing leadership’s decision will have outsize influence in corporate America. It also calls on employees to “oppose the mandate as a matter of principle” and tells employees to not let the policy alter their decision if they’ve already chosen not to get the Covid vaccine.

Although only a tiny portion of Google’s overall workforce has signed the document, momentum could grow as the return-to-work deadline nears. Most of the company’s employees are expected to return to physical offices three days a week starting Jan. 10.

The company has given its more than 150,000 US employees until Dec. 3 to report their vaccination status, and whether they prefer to work from home or not.

Google’s mandate followed a ‘vax-or-test’ order by the Biden administration for companies with more than 100 employees. Moreover, the company says that all employees who work directly or indirectly with government contracts must get the jab, even if working from home.

“Vaccines are key to our ability to enable a safe return to office for everyone and minimize the spread of Covid-19 in our communities,” wrote Google VP of security in an email sent near the end of last month, who added that the changes from Biden’s executive order were “minimal.” His email also gave employees until Nov. 12 to request exemptions based on religious beliefs or medical conditions, which would be granted on a case-by-case basis.

A Google spokesperson said the company stands behind its policy.

“As we’ve stated to all our employees and the author of this document, our vaccination requirements are one of the most important ways we can keep our workforce safe and keep our services running. We firmly stand behind our vaccination policy.”

Maybe some of these employees saw the “died suddenly” spike in google trends.

— Zr1Trader (@ZR1Trader) November 23, 2021

Read the rest of the report here.