Can employers make COVID-19 vaccination necessary? – KIRO 7 Information Seattle

Can employers make the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory?

Yes, with a few exceptions.

Experts say U.S. employers can require workers to take safety measures, including vaccinations. That doesn’t necessarily mean that if you refuse, you will be fired. However, you may need to sign a waiver or agree to work in certain conditions to limit the risk you pose to yourself or others.

“Employers generally have a lot of leeway” to set rules for the workplace, said Dorit Reiss, a law professor who specializes in vaccination policy at the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law. “It’s your business.”

The rules vary by country. However, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has allowed companies to prescribe the flu and other vaccines, and has stated that they may need COVID-19 vaccines.

There are exceptions. For example, people can request exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Some states have proposed laws restricting the vaccines’ mandate because of their “emergency” status. However, this may become less of a problem as Pfizer has applied for full approval and others are likely to follow suit.

How employers deal with the issue will vary. Many may not want to be vaccinated because complying with regulations and managing exemption requests are administrative burdensome, said Michelle S. Strowhiro, employment advisor and lawyer at McDermott Will & Emery. Legal claims can also arise.

As a result, many employers are likely to strongly promote vaccination without making it mandatory, Strowhiro said.

For example, Walmart is offering a $ 75 bonus to employees who provide evidence that they have been vaccinated.

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