Can the big employer afford to lose that many at once? Yes they can, they got 60%-70% of the vaxxed that will bridge the gap, more that will succumb to the pressure. Then the robots will come online to replace them before their time is up. They won’t need that many robots at that point.
No, they probably cannot. At least not in some groups. They’re already running perpetually short in some areas, especially among the jobs requiring certification (like mine). If even 20% of the certified people leave, they will be hurting bad. We are salaried and our phones will not be very functional if the amount of unpaid overtime rises. There is a bit of slack in the schedule now, but not enough to absorb that much loss.
Other positions will be hard to backfill without throwing out some big money as well. Linemen and substation technicians and electricians for example.
Our pay is generally competitive in the industry, but throw in the mandate, and watch the workforce leave for greener pastures. Particularly since they trashed the pension system a few years ago. The incentive to stay is less than it was a few years back.
Me, being of retirement age, I’m not in too bad of shape and I intend to raise a ruckus on my way out if this goes the wrong way. But others of my ilk can just as easily work for Georgia Power, Duke Energy, Louisville Gas & Electric, Entergy - virtually anywhere in the country if they want. Myself, I might get a CDL and drive for 4 or 5 years, or something like that. Or just retire and relax a bit. Don’t know.