Last week, the Supreme Court announced a decision that large companies do not have to enforce the vaccination-or-testing requirement proposed by the Biden Administration. However, the decision is ultimately left up to the employer whether or not to continue the vaccine requirement. And that has put Carhartt in a tight spot with its customer base. Carhartt has come under fire from its more conservative consumers after it decided to keep the vaccine mandate in place for its roughly 3,000 U.S.-based employees.
The uproar made national news after The Washington Post wrote an article about it. This week, #BoycottCarhartt started trending on Twitter after the announcement from Carhartt’s CEO Mark Valade. In an email sent it to workers a day after the Supreme Court’s decision, Valade emphasizes workplace safety.
“We put workplace safety at the very top of our priority list and the Supreme Court’s recent ruling doesn’t impact that core value. We, and the medical community, continue to believe vaccines are necessary to ensure a safe working environment for every associate and even perhaps their households,” the message said.
Wow @Carhartt is subjecting their employees to medical abuse. Very bad look. Definitely should stop buying their products if you do pic.twitter.com/OyBdzQjwIK
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER ???? (@ElijahSchaffer) January 18, 2022
Valade continued,” While we appreciate that there may be differing views, workplace safety is an area where we and the union that represents our associates cannot compromise. An unvaccinated workforce is both a people and business risk that our company is unwilling to take.”
According to some sources, Michigan-based Carhartt had staffing challenges and potential legal liability in the back of its mind for making such a decision.
While the popular manufacturer of rural and work clothing received major backlash on Twitter and other social media outlets, it also garnered support from others.
Props to @Carhartt for keeping people safe and making decisions based on science and reality. —> Keeps Vaccination Mandate in Place For Workers Despite SCOTUS Ruling https://t.co/iaLoS2OlMC
— Kim Brater (@KimBrater) January 18, 2022
However, the majority of people in the conversation were disappointed consumers pledging to boycott the company until Carhartt rescinded its mandatory vaccine requirement.
I have been a faithful @Carhartt customer for 3 decades. Until they rescind this, I will never spend another dollar on their gear. #boycottcarhartt https://t.co/CqzAolNTDm
— @Potatoblood (@Potatothirst) January 18, 2022
Carhartt is not the only company that is being boycotted for its decision. Also on Twitter, #BoycottStarbucks is trending after the company announced they will not be requiring its employees to receive the vaccine. It seems that whichever decision a company makes in regards to the vaccine receives backlash from the opposing side.
In todays news, #BoycottStarbucks is trending FOR NOT requiring a vaccination to work there
Meanwhile, #BoycottCarhartt is trending. Their clothing line is getting “cancelled”. The reason you ask? FOR requiring the employees get a vaccination to work there
Make it make sense.
— Gavin Spoor (@gavin_spoor) January 20, 2022
Carhartt has been synonymous with hardworking individuals like those in the agriculture industry. However, with the recent vaccine mandate and announcement of a collaboration with Chipotle, those in the farming industry are questioning the recent decisions by the company.
