Tuesday, December 22, 2020
With several promising vaccinations for the COVID-19 virus scheduled to be released to the public over the next few months, many businesses have been wondering how they can speed up the return to some semblance of normalcy, and particularly what steps they can take to encourage or require their employees to be vaccinated.
On December 16, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued updated COVID-19 guidance addressing vaccination programs and policies in the employment context. As a general matter, no federal law prohibits employers from encouraging or facilitating vaccinations for their employees, or even requiring that employees be vaccinated as a condition of employment. However, mandatory vaccination policies by employers implicate concerns under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII), and the Genetic Information and Non-Discrimination Act (GINA), and employers should
Can employers make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory, and what happens if you choose not to take the shot?
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Can employers make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory, and what happens if you choose not to take the shot?AP
Last Updated: Dec 23, 2020, 08:51 PM IST
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Can employers make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory? Yes, with some exceptions.
Experts say employers can require employees to take safety measures, including vaccination. That doesn t necessarily mean you would get fired if you refuse, but you might need to sign a waiver or agree to work under specific conditions to limit any risk you might pose to yourself or others.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Evandro Gigante discuss the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s recent guidance for employers regarding mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. On December 16th, 2020, the EEOC issued updated guidance for employers in light of the FDA’s recent authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. Widespread vaccinations have been largely perceived as critical in returning all employees to the workplace in a safe manner and allowing employers to resume normal business operations. Tune in as we discuss what many employers should consider regarding requiring employees to be vaccinated before returning to the office.
Can employers require COVID-19 vaccinations?
Updated Dec 22, 2020;
Posted Dec 22, 2020
Staff at Rose Villa Senior Living in Oak Grove, just outside Portland, watch as the first Pfizer coronavirus vaccines arrive on Dec. 21, 2020. Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian
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Yes, with some exceptions.
Experts say employers can require employees to take safety measures, including vaccination. That doesn’t necessarily mean you would get fired if you refuse, but you might need to sign a waiver or agree to work under specific conditions to limit any risk you might pose to yourself or others.
“Employers generally have wide scope” to make rules for the workplace, said Dorit Reiss, a law professor who specializes in vaccine policies at the University of California Hastings College of the Law. “It’s their business.”
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