Bosses have the power to force employees to take the vaccine: experts Normal text size Advertisement Two of Australia's leading authorities on labour law say businesses have the power to compel their staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 under workplace laws that enable them to make "lawful and reasonable" directions to employees. But employers are looking to the federal government to provide clear direction before testing this complex area of the legal system, wary of being seen to infringing on individual rights. Discussions between the government, unions and businesses on the vaccine rollout, which is expected to begin in March, have already started but are not yet at a formal level.