Intel tells unvaccinated employees they will face unpaid leave next year

Intel tells workers that unvaccinated people who don’t get an exemption for religious or medical reasons will be on unpaid leave beginning in April.

The California-based semiconductor company told employees last month they had a January 4 deadline to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or seek an exemption, citing a government mandate for federal contractors.

The constitutionality of broad government mandates is up in the air. A federal court in Georgia blocked the contractor mandate earlier this month, but the government is appealing.

“We are closely monitoring the legal environment and expect it will take time for the case in Georgia, as well as other similar cases, to be fully resolved,” Intel said in a statement.

In a December 7 memo to employees, Chief People Officer Christy Pambianchi told employees the January 4 vaccine deadline remains in place.

Intel is one of the biggest employers in Israel, counting approximately 14,000 employees. It is unclear if the mandate would be extended outside of the US.