The largest employer in the corridor and the city of Cedar Rapids will require it's employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Raytheon Technologies, the parent company of Collins Aerospace, will require all of their employees to be vaccinated, according to a company statement.

Collins Aerospace in the largest employer in the corridor with around 9,000 employees who work in Cedar Rapids and Coralville. The company has over 130,000 employees nationwide. A Raytheon spokesperson told The Gazette that employees will have until January 1st to be fully vaccinated. The companies decision comes about one week after President Joe Biden announced federal vaccine mandates for many U.S. businesses.

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Some exemptions will be allowed in getting the vaccine, such as those with medical conditions and anyone who holds certain religious beliefs. Raytheon is one of the first major defense contractors who have issued a mandate on vaccines. The Gazette reports that the company said in a statement that the vaccine requirement comes as part of its "ongoing commitment to maintain employee health and safety."

So what will happen to employees who still refuse to get vaccinated by the January 1st deadline? A spokesperson for Raytheon told The Gazette that any non-compliance with the new rule would be treated like other breaches of policy, with termination a possible outcome. The company says it plans to consult with labor unions and other groups before implementing the new plan.

The Gazette also reports that Walgreens is also requiring all employees to get the vaccine, or enroll in a testing program. Wal-Mart, the largest private employer in the U.S., has required the vaccine for those who work at their headquarters and regional offices, but have yet issue any rule for their retail workers.

 

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