The city also revived its vaccine incentive for booster recipients
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is urging businesses across the city to bring their workers back, in order to stimulate an economy hit hard by COVID-19.
"We must get people back to work. New Yorkers, it's time to get back to work," appealed Adams during the New York State Democratic Convention. "You can't tell me you're afraid of COVID on Monday night, and I see you in the nightclub on Sunday.”
According to Adams, workers who are not reporting to work are not helping service-oriented businesses that benefit from on-site work of corporate employees.
"That accountant that's not in his office space is not going to the cleaners, is not going to the restaurant, is not allowing the cooks, the waiters, the dishwashers [to make a living]," he said as quoted by the New York Post.
Adams said that as communities face "sky-high" unemployment figures, New Yorkers should help them in getting their jobs back.
"It's time to open our state and our city and show the country the resiliency of who we are. Many communities are still facing sky high unemployment numbers. We must give them the tools to return to work," he stressed.
The mayor previously suggested on starting with a "three-day work week" to let workers assess that it is safe to return to officers, before eventually transitioning to a five-day work week.
"Now is the time for us to get back. I'm hoping within the next few weeks the CEOs map out a real plan of 'this is when you need to come back,'" he said as quoted by Forbes.
Read more: New York City to hire 1,000 'disease detectives'
Nearly 1,500 workers fired
Meanwhile, the New York City government has terminated 1,428 or one per cent of its municipal workers who refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The terminations took place after the government's deadline for presenting proof of vaccination on February 11 expired, ABC News reported.
Majority of the terminated employees were from the Department of Education, with 914 fired, followed by the Housing Authority with 101 workers sacked. The New York Police Department saw 36 employees terminated, while the New York City Fire Department saw 25 removed.
"I'm grateful to all the city workers who continue to serve New Yorkers and 'Get Stuff Done' for the greatest city in the world," said Adams in a statement quoted by ABC News.
According to the mayor, these frontliners once against showed their willingness to do the right thing by getting vaccinated.
"Our goal was always to vaccinate, not terminate, and city workers stepped up and met the goal placed before them," he said.
The government has revived its $100 vaccine incentive for New Yorkers who would get booster at a city-run or SOMOS vaccine site until the end of the month.
"To anyone thinking about getting vaccinated or boosted, now is the time! Protect yourself and those around you and make some money while you’re at it," said Adams.
The New York mayor then called on those who are getting the $100 to spend them on small businesses to help support them.
"I also encourage New Yorkers thinking about how to spend their $100 to buy from our small businesses. They have kept New York City running throughout the pandemic and are the backbone of so many communities," he said.
