Bright Horizons Requires All U.S. Employees to be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Rhea-AI Summary

Bright Horizons (NYSE: BFAM) has announced a new COVID-19 safety policy requiring employees at U.S. child care centers to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing, starting September. The company emphasizes health and safety, offering a $100 incentive for vaccinations. Stringent protocols will remain in place, including daily health checks and mask requirements. This move aims to protect staff and children amid the ongoing pandemic. Bright Horizons, a leader in early education and child care, supports over 1,000 centers across the U.S. and beyond.

Positive

• Introduction of mandatory vaccination or weekly testing for employees enhances workplace safety.
• Continued $100 incentive for vaccinations encourages higher vaccination rates among employees.

Negative

• Mandatory testing may strain resources and reduce employee morale.
• Potential resistance from employees to comply with vaccination/testing requirements.

Weekly testing required for those not fully vaccinated

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As COVID-19 continues to surge across the country due to the Delta variant, Bright Horizons (NYSE: BFAM), which employs approximately 17,000 people in the U.S., today announced that beginning in September it will require all employees working in its child care centers across the U.S. to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who are not fully vaccinated will be required to undergo weekly at-home testing. These new requirements, combined with the company’s existing health and safety protocols, is another layer of protection against COVID-19 within its centers across the country.

“We are living in uncertain times with many variables that are outside of our control and our role as a responsible employer is to encourage our employees to get vaccinated – for the health and safety of everyone,” says Stephen Kramer, Chief Executive Officer at Bright Horizons. “Our utmost responsibility is keeping our teachers, staff, and children safe and healthy, and we believe this extra protection will help us lead the field and succeed in that mission.”

Bright Horizons will continue to offer a $100 incentive for its teachers and child care center-based employees to get vaccinated as part of its comprehensive education and awareness campaign to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations and maintaining healthy workplaces. The vaccine and testing requirements also apply to all Bright Horizons employees working in the company’s U.S. offices. Bright Horizons will provide self-test kits to employees who are not fully vaccinated on a weekly basis.

In addition to these new requirements, Bright Horizons will continue to implement stringent health and safety protocols across its child care centers, including daily health checks for adults and children and masks for all adults in the centers, including staff and parents. Masks are also strongly recommended in the centers for children over 2 years old. The company continues to revisit and evolve these policies through consulting with a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital and through guidance from the CDC and local health authorities.

The company has been a leader in research to understand the lasting impacts of COVID-19 on working parents and their children’s development. The latest research can be found here.

About Bright Horizons

Bright Horizons^® is a leading global provider of high-quality early education and child care, back-up care, and workforce education services. For more than 30 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates approximately 1,000 early education and child care centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and India, and serves more than 1,300 of the world’s leading employers. Bright Horizons’ early education and child care centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs help employees succeed at each life and career stage. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210825005802/en/

Kristen Raymaakers

kristen.raymaakers@brighthorizons.com

Source: Bright Horizons

FAQ

What is the new COVID-19 policy for Bright Horizons employees?

Bright Horizons requires all U.S. employees working in child care centers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing starting September.

When will the new vaccination requirement take effect at Bright Horizons?

The vaccination requirement will begin in September.

What incentives does Bright Horizons offer for getting vaccinated?

Bright Horizons provides a $100 incentive for teachers and child care center-based employees who get vaccinated.

What health protocols will Bright Horizons continue to implement?

Bright Horizons will maintain daily health checks and mask requirements for all adults in child care centers.

How many employees does Bright Horizons have in the U.S.?

Bright Horizons employs approximately 17,000 people in the U.S.