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Governments once saved the world from smallpox by mandating inoculation for everyone. More than a century later, they aren’t interested in repeating the feat. Most are opting for limited Covid-19 vaccine mandates among public-sector workers, or pushing vax requirements in stores and restaurants, but not workplaces.
Unfortunately, public service announcements and eccentric incentives are not getting the job done: In rich countries, where vaccine supply now far outstrips demand, the remaining holdouts threaten to prolong the pandemic for everyone. It’s time for private-sector employers to take the lead, by mandating vaccines for work.
Amid declining faith in most other institutions—governments, media, even non-profits—companies still broadly enjoy the public trust. Over two-thirds of people in Edelman’s 2021 survey agreed that “CEOs should step in when the government does not fix societal problems.” No institution is more trusted than one’s own employer.
Back in December, when a bunch of top CEOs discussed the pandemic at a Yale summit, vaccine mandates were not particularly controversial: 78% agreed shots should be required (pdf, p. 8) at offices, whenever they reopened. In the months since, the same CEOs have surely consulted their more-cautious lawyers. It’s a hard call to make, no doubt. But often doing the right thing—in this case, saving lives—requires taking on some risk. (Also, vaccine mandates are clearly legal in the US, and very likely to be upheld by Europe’s human-rights court.)
CEOs love to wax heroic about making the tough decisions. And some, like restaurateur Danny Meyer of the Union Square Hospitality Group, are making them. But the vast majority of employers, large and small, are for now just taking the same laissez-faire approach to science as their governments. What an opportunity this could be to show that the public’s growing faith in business to solve societal problems may actually be warranted. —Zach Seward
✦ Zach makes Quartz’s tough decisions. As CEO, he’s also the ringleader in Quartz’s mission to make business better. (And yes, vaccines are required at our New York HQ). To support that mission—and Quartz’s journalism—consider becoming a member.
Words to live by
“I’m not a scientist, but I know how to read data, and what I see is that this is a crisis of people who have not been vaccinated. I feel a strong responsibility, on our part as business leaders, to take care of our team and our guests, and that’s what we’re doing.” —Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group
Employees and customers at Meyer’s restaurants will soon need to show proof of vaccination. After months of encouraging staff to get their jabs, the restaurateur is now giving anyone who hasn’t done so 45 days to book an appointment or leave. The company’s website also lists documents diners will need to bring as of Sept. 7.
Talking points
👋 It’s OK if vaccine mandates alienate customers. Some companies are less focused on the customers they might lose, and more on the customer loyalty they could gain.
📈 Getting hacked is more expensive than ever. As Covid-19 cemented its grip on the globe (and sent remote work skyrocketing), the cost of being hacked rose nearly 15%.
🎥 In the ScarJo vs. Disney PR war, everyone’s a loser. Both sides are framing the Black Widow lawsuit as a matter of right and wrong, but it’s ultimately just a legal issue.
🤔 India’s vaccine supply is all over the place. State governments are rationing doses, while private centers, where Indians can pay for the vaccine, have plenty of shots.
🚗 DoorDash will try cooking the food, too. The delivery company is opening a temporary kitchen in San Jose, California, where it will make meals for six local restaurants.
🏠 The US housing boom isn’t catastrophic (yet). So far, this boom is much different than the one that shook apart the financial system in 2008.
💉 BioNTech is making an mRNA malaria vaccine. The German biotech company, which partnered with Pfizer on the first mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, is aiming for a clinical trial by 2023.
🍟 Raising fast-food wages doesn’t have to hurt diners. Meaningful wage increases can be offset by small price increases, plus cost savings from improved worker retention.
There’s a map for that
To slow the spread of the Delta variant, the CDC last week updated its guidance on face masks: Even fully vaccinated folks should wear them “in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.”
Which areas are those? To help answer that question, the CDC created a map of all US counties, classified by the level of community transmission. It currently shows that community transmission is highest in the south and the northwest, and lowest in the northeast.
Quality quitting
American workers have been walking away from their jobs in record numbers this year. Sometimes they’re quitting quietly, but sometimes less so: One group of Burger King employees in Nebraska commandeered an illuminated sign outside of the restaurant. “We all quit,” they wrote in the letters normally used to announce burger deals. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Even amid the Great Resignation, giving notice via giant sign is a movie-level farewell. But recent history is filled with audacious examples of sudden goodbyes. So we put together a quiz: Can you guess which of these quitting scenes happened in real life?
Elsewhere on Quartz:
- Mo’ money, mo’…: Beijing’s crackdown is roiling China’s billionaires.
- What’s in their wallet: Why does the Federal Reserve need a digital currency?
- We’ll do it live: The future of social media looks a lot like QVC.
- Report to principle: Is McKinsey wrong about the financial benefits of diversity?
- Teenage dream: In California, even high school athletes can score endorsement deals.
- Getting turnt: The International Space Station did “cartwheels.” NASA wasn’t worried.
Our best wishes for a healthy day. Get in touch with us at needtoknow@qz.com, and live your best Quartz life by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Zach Seward, Lila MacLellan, Annabelle Timsit, and Kira Bindrim