Huntington Ingalls shipbuilder, it is not forcing out employees who refuse the coronavirus vaccine, following Biden administration’s decision to suspend a planned vaccine mandate for companies with more than 100 employees.
According to Huntington Ingalls chief executive Mike Petters, implementation of the federal government’s vaccine mandate has been a complex undertaking. However, the company confirmed that its contracts do not include a requirement to implement the mandate.
Namely, technical solutions employees are in a different situation and face varied requirements depending on the particular contract.
In light of this development, we are hereby suspending the deadline for vaccination, except where specific Technical Solutions contracts require it.
…Mike Petters noted.
As explained, while the suspension of the mandate provides immediate relief by not requiring separation of employment for the unvaccinated, it does not mean it will not be imposed in the future.
Over the past few months, we have worked in good faith to become compliant with the federal vaccine mandate. And with safety as our primary objective, we will continue to encourage 100% vaccination for our shipyar. We will continue to manage our programs, and if the mandate becomes a contractual requirement, we will be required to respond accordingly.
…Petters added.
Concluding, the company said workers who opted to submit for retirement or to resign as a result of the federal mandate can now request reversal.
