* Shell considers mandate for offshore operations
* Some U.S. operations already have "soft enforcement"
* Trading floors exploring vaccination mandate
(Adds Chevron, Exxon, Valero and Pioneer policies.)
By Ron Bousso and Sabrina Valle
LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell is
considering making it mandatory for workers in some operations
to get COVID-19 vaccinations or risk being fired, an internal
company document seen by Reuters shows.
The energy company, which employs some 86,000 workers in
more than 70 countries, will weigh the pros and cons of the
policy at an executive committee meeting on Friday, said two
sources who declined to be identified.
Shell declined to comment.
Companies around the world are grappling with their response
to COVID vaccinations as some countries struggle to inoculate
their population or in some cases people refuse to get the jab.
The second-largest U.S. oil producer, Chevron Corp (CVX.N),
and refiner Valero Energy Corp (VLO.N) are requiring jabs for
certain field workers or new workers, while leading Permian
producer Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD.N) is requiring newly
hired employees to be fully vaccinated before their first day of
work. (More https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chevron-begins-covid-19-vaccination-mandates-wsj-2021-08-23)
The internal Shell memo, dated Sept. 1, recommends that the
company should overall "stay the course with our current policy
of strong advocacy for vaccination, but no compulsion," adding
however that it should consider introducing a vaccine mandate
for specific operations.
That would include employees on offshore rigs where
self-isolation and evacuation are complex and highly disruptive,
the document said.
Those who refuse could face dismissal.
"For staff who refuse to comply with a vaccine mandate we
would make all reasonable efforts to avoid terminating their
employment but will be faced with no alternative but to do so."
Shell's trading division has already requested a vaccine
mandate "because social distancing is impossible to achieve on a
trading floor."
The company is also already actively exploring the
introduction of the policy for offshore workers in the Gulf of
Mexico, the document said.
Shell has already adopted a "soft enforcement" vaccination
policy in the Gulf of Mexico and in the onshore Permian shale
basin operations under which employees and contractors must
produce a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination to
access Shell sites, the document said.
Shell rival BP said in a statement that for now it doesn't
have any specific vaccination mandates in place, other than
where required under any national or local rules.
The internal Shell document was first reported by the
Financial Times on Wednesday.
Exxon, which has no mandates in place, said on Thursday it
strongly encouraged COVID-19 shots and expected non-vaccinated
staff members to wear masks indoors when six feet of social
distancing is not possible.
The company is deferring to those vaccinated to use their
best judgment and consider wearing masks when in crowded areas
for extended periods of time.
"We will continue to monitor guidance from health
organizations and the effectiveness of our mitigation efforts,
and make adjustments if and when they are needed," Exxon's
spokesperson Casey Norton said.
(Reporting by Ron Bousso; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and
Bernadette Baum)