Can Employers Require COVID Vaccinations?

What’s the ๐™ฃ๐™ช๐™ข๐™—๐™š๐™ง ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™š ๐™ฆ๐™ช๐™š๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ I am getting from clients returning their workforce to the office?

๐˜พ๐™–๐™ฃ ๐™„ ๐™ง๐™š๐™ฆ๐™ช๐™ž๐™ง๐™š ๐™š๐™ข๐™ฅ๐™ก๐™ค๐™ฎ๐™š๐™š๐™จ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ ๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐˜พ๐™Š๐™‘๐™„๐˜ฟ-19 ๐™ซ๐™–๐™˜๐™˜๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ?

My answer: ๐™”๐™š๐™จ…๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™ก๐™š๐™จ๐™จ…

Generally, employers can mandate the vaccine for their workforce. But must also give accommodations to those with disabilities and sincerely held religious beliefs to avoid trouble under equal employment opportunity laws.

Unless your business is in certain high-risk industries, consider a policy that “๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ง๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™œ๐™ก๐™ฎ ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™˜๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง๐™–๐™œ๐™š๐™จ” vaccination. The policy should:

โœ”Make getting the shot easy for employees with an onsite clinic or providing local resources.

โœ”Provide paid time off to get the shot or recovery from side effects

โœ”Reassure employees they won’t face retaliation for not choosing vaccination.

Remember, too, that your employees are apprehensive about returning to onsite work. Make sure HR engages with employees to calm apprehensions and find solutions for issues that arise.

Need some more insight on return to work? Contact me.

#kimabovetherim

Published by Kim Freeman

As an attorney and HR pro for 20+ years, Kim Freeman is skilled in employment law, HR, compliance, risk management, and training. She's passionate about helping businesses develop and grow people-centric cultures. She balances business needs with HR policies, procedures, and practices to create a workplace where employees are engaged and productive. A happy workforce is essential to your ability to attract and retain the best talent.

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