Nike mandates vaccinations for U.S.-based office employees
As the holiday season approaches, retailers in the United States are grappling with a labor shortage, with potential issues such as COVID concerns, vaccination statuses, child care issues, and burnout potentially keeping workers from filling retail roles.
While some companies have implemented vaccine mandates for their office-based employees, the Biden administration's mandate that all companies with more than 100 employees require vaccination or weekly testing would change this, affecting store-level workers who have largely been left out of such decisions. However, as of mid-2025, there are no active federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates specifically requiring retail store-level employees to be vaccinated.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had COVID-19 related emergency temporary standards earlier in the pandemic, but these were terminated as of January 15, 2025, affecting healthcare settings primarily rather than retail. OSHA still requires businesses to provide paid time off for employees to get vaccinated and sick leave for vaccine side effects, but this is not the same as a mandate for vaccination among retail workers.
On the state level, some agencies have upheld vaccine mandates for state employees, but these rulings relate to government employees, not retail store employees.
Andrew Challenger, vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, has stated that these issues could keep workers from filling retail roles. Nike, for instance, is requiring all office-based employees in the U.S. to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon return to in-person work, a move aimed at supporting the safe return of employees to workplaces. However, Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment on vaccine requirements for store-level employees.
Retailers are faced with a labor shortage, and some are combating the issue by offering benefits like tuition assistance, medical benefits, and higher pay. The end of expanded unemployment benefits might encourage some workers to take seasonal positions. Walgreens, Walmart, CVS Health, Saks, TJX, and other companies have made similar decisions to require corporate employees to be vaccinated in recent months.
The labor shortage in retail is a significant issue for the upcoming holiday season, and retailers will need to find creative solutions to attract and retain workers. The situation underscores the need for ongoing dialogue between employers, employees, and policymakers to address the complex challenges facing the retail industry.
- The labor shortage in retail, partially due to COVID concerns and vaccine hesitancy, could impact the holiday season.
- Some businesses have mandated vaccines for office-based employees, but not for store-level workers as of mid-2025.
- OSHA no longer has emergency temporary standards related to COVID-19, focusing on healthcare settings rather than retail.
- State agencies have upheld vaccine mandates for government employees, not retail store employees.
- Andrew Challenger suggests that these issues could deter workers from taking retail roles.
- Companies like Nike are requiring vaccines for office-based employees, but have yet to comment on store-level requirements.
- Retailers are offering benefits like tuition assistance, medical benefits, and higher pay to attract workers.
- The end of expanded unemployment benefits might encourage some workers to take seasonal retail positions.
- Walgreens, Walmart, CVS Health, Saks, TJX, and other companies have mandated vaccines for corporate employees in recent months.
- The labor shortage highlights the need for dialogue between employers, employees, and policymakers to address retail industry challenges.
- AI and automation might play a role in filling the labor gap in retail, offering solutions like self-checkout and robotic assistance.
- Health and wellness initiatives, such as fitness and exercise programs, nutrition counseling, and workplace-wellness programs, could help retain workers and promote a positive work environment.
- The health-and-wellness industry, including fitness and exercise, nutrition, and personal-finance Education, could benefit from increased investment in retail.
- The budgeting and financial education sectors could help small-business owners navigate the challenges of the pandemic and labor shortage.
- Policy-and-legislation surrounding COVID-19, including vaccine mandates and sick leave, could continue to impact businesses and employees in the upcoming years.
- Diversity-and-inclusion efforts in the retail industry could attract a wider talent pool and promote a more positive work environment.
- Small-business owners might turn to online platforms like social-media, e-commerce, and home-and-garden channels to reach customers and compensate for labor shortages.
- The retail sector, as a part of the broader business world, will need to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic and labor shortage, focusing on sustainability, lifestyle, personal-finance, and sustainable-living initiatives.
