Can Employers Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations?

Employers and employees alike are wondering… can vaccines be required for workers to return to the office? Seems like an easy answer since the law is clear that COVID-19 vaccination can be required as a condition of employment (with certain caveats). However, as the saying goes, nothing is as simple as it seems.

There are many complications, including the allowed exemptions under which an individual can refuse vaccination. Suppose employers do require vaccinations as a condition of returning to the workplace. In that case, they must be prepared to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities (per the Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA) and religious objections (per Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.) This protection excludes non-religious beliefs. It also doesn't exempt individuals who object to vaccination because of political views or personal reasons.

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Human Capital & Emergency Succession Planning

Human Capital & Emergency Succession Planning

The pandemic certainly has changed things - work, home life, school, socializing, etc. - in ways we would never have imagined. We work at home, school at home, socialize over Zoom, have our groceries delivered, and take all the precautions needed to keep ourselves and our families safe. At present, there is no real end in sight to COVID-19 and no view into what “normal” might look like in the future because the situation changes all the time. It’s hard to know if anyone has figured out the real impact of the pandemic on our home and work lives. For this reason, business continuity planning takes on even more importance since poor planning can hurt our ability to continue day-to-day operations. 

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Flu and Business Continuity

November 15, 2017 - Flu season is creeping up on us and that means employees home sick or slowed down at the office by flu symptoms. There does not seem to be any flu pandemic on the near horizon, so at least we don’t have that to worry about this year, but experts seem to think that a pandemic is coming (It is about 100 years since the Spanish flu epidemic killed millions worldwide). We need to ensure that we have plans in place to help prevent the spread of flu in the workplace. But we also need to be thinking long-term and look at how we should update our business continuity plans to help us deal with whatever is ahead.

Experts say the “big one” is coming. (Item #1)  The building is fine but most of your employees are out sick; do you have a plan for this? (Item #2)  What happens if we have a bad flu season and employers find themselves struggling to maintain business as usual? (Item #3)

While there is no specific flu pandemic threatening at the moment, a serious outbreak of even run-of-the-mill winter flu can threaten your business. (Item #4)  Here are five ways to prevent the flu from spreading at your office. (Item #5)  No matter what your role, you can pitch in to keep the flu on permanent vacation this season. (Item #6)


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The Flu and Your Business

According to the CDC, it's not possible to predict what this flu season will be like. While flu spreads every year, they say, the timing, severity, and length of the season varies from one year to another. Flu season starts around this time of year and peaks from December to March, but now, while there is no serious epidemic, is the time to do something about it. The National Institutes of Health estimates that the flu costs $7 billion per year in sick days and lost productivity. And workers report their productivity decreases by half when powering through the flu at work. This week's articles are aimed at helping prevent infection and spreading the flu.

Getting an annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. (Item #1)   Here are 10 steps you can take to help prevent the spread of flu where you work. (Item #2)   No matter what your role, you can pitch in to keep the flu on permanent vacation this season by doing these things. (Item #3)

Take these steps now to keep your office running during a flu outbreak.  (Item #4)   Preventing or mitigating the risk of a flu outbreak in your office mission-critical. (Item #5)   Can an employer adopt a mandatory flu vaccine policy and fire employees who don't get a flu shot? (Item #6)

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Flu and Business Continuity

Although flu season, according to the experts, is starting later this year, we can still expect flu outbreaks over the winter and, like last year, they could be significant. If you haven't planned for flu yet this year, it's not too late to save you and your employees from the effects of this year's flu season. This week's articles provide insight and information to help your organization get through with the least impact.

In addition to preparing for the impact of a flu outbreak, you should consider what you will do to help your employees stay healthy. (Item #1)   The "Mobilizing Against Pandemic" study outlines five simple steps organizations can take to support a mobile workforce in the event of a serious flu outbreak. (Item #2)   Learn what two strategies are recommended to businesses and employers this flu season. (Item #3)

Proper planning will allow employers in the public and private sectors to better protect their employees and lessen the impact of a pandemic or seasonal flu outbreak on society and the economy. (Item #4)   In non-medical terms the flu is explained, followed by how it is spread and then how all executives and facility management in any organization can prepare. (Item #5)   From a numbers standpoint, the flu ravages a business much like it does the human body. (Item #6)


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