"Pre-Work Vaccination Recommendation" JP Morgan... Wall Street Rushes to Normal Operations

Morgan Stanley and Blackstone Require Office Attendance Only for Vaccinated Employees

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] U.S. investment bank JP Morgan Chase is facing criticism for effectively mandating COVID-19 vaccinations by strongly recommending that its U.S. employees get vaccinated ahead of returning to the office next month.

On the 24th (local time), JP Morgan announced internally that "the more employees who get vaccinated, the safer the office becomes," according to reports by CNBC and others.

JP Morgan, which plans to resume office attendance for all U.S. employees by the 6th of next month, will check employees' vaccination status by the 30th of this month. Employees can select one of three responses on the company portal: "vaccinated," "not vaccinated," or "prefer not to disclose."

Vaccinated employees are not required to wear masks or practice social distancing in the office. Those who are unvaccinated or prefer not to disclose their status must follow existing health guidelines. JP Morgan stated, "Employees must come to the office even if they are not vaccinated," but added, "non-vaccinated employees are recommended to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing."

The company is also considering making vaccination mandatory for all employees. JP Morgan said, "We may require all employees to be vaccinated in the future," adding, "this does not conflict with legal requirements or medical and religious accommodations."

Competitors such as Morgan Stanley and the world's largest private equity firm Blackstone have stated that only vaccinated employees can return to the office. Unvaccinated employees or those who have only received the first dose must continue working from home until fully vaccinated.

CNBC evaluated JP Morgan's announcement of mandatory vaccination for all employees as a gradual measure compared to competitors who allow only vaccinated employees to return to the office.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.