At least 600 Google employees signed and circulated what is being described as a “manifesto” expressing opposition to the company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. CNBC reported that the manifesto is “the latest challenge for leadership as it approaches key deadlines for returning workers to offices in person.”
Because Google has more than 100 employees, it would be subjected to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate, a rule that is being challenged by a number of states and companies, including The Daily Wire.
“[Google] asked its more than 150,000 employees to upload their vaccination status to its internal systems by Dec. 3, whether they plan to come into the office or not, according to internal documents viewed by CNBC,” the outlet reported.
Note that 600 out of 150,000 equates to less than 0.5% of its workforce, something Business Insider was sure to point out, even though outlets routinely ignore facts like this when employees are revolting against something the Left doesn’t like. For example, the percentage of Netflix employees who actually publicly objected to comedian Dave Chappelle’s latest standup special, “The Closer,” was miniscule, yet this information wasn’t included in many articles about their dissent.
More from CNBC:
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 manifesto is also the latest example of how unusually outspoken Google’s employees are. They have previously debated everything from government contracts to cafeteria food changes, sometimes spurring the company to change course. For instance, in 2018, the company did not renew a Pentagon contract to work on artificial intelligence after some employees complained it could be used for deadly purposes.
This latest manifesto from Google employees, however, does not appear to be swaying management. Chris Rackow, Google’s vice president of security, said in an email in late October that “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.” He also said the company was already requiring employees to get vaccinated regardless of President Joe Biden’s executive order. The deadline for Google employees to request exemptions was November 12.
A spokesperson for Google told CNBC that the company was sticking to its vaccine 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,” the spokesperson said.