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COVID-19 Vaccine Considerations for Employers

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies across the globe have been working to develop a vaccine. As the pandemic continues and vaccine clinical trials progress, it is not too early for employers to start considering whether they will require employees to get the vaccination when it is ready.

Although the prospect of a vaccine is exciting to most, it also presents challenges for employers. Organizations may be considering whether vaccination will be encouraged or mandated for its employees. When understanding the inherent risks and logistics of mandating or encouraging employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, employers should seek legal counsel to discuss which course of action is best for their organization.

Governmental Guidance

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and OSHA have both issued guidance on vaccines in the employment context in the past, but make no specific mention of a COVID-19 vaccine.

OSHA Guidance

Per OSHA, employers can require employees to receive vaccinations for influenza, providing they properly inform employees of “the benefits of vaccinations.” In addition, OSHA states that employees can refuse a vaccination due to a reasonable belief that they have an underlying medical condition that creates a real danger of serious illness or death, and that they “may be protected under Section 11(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970 pertaining to whistleblower rights.”

EEOC Guidance

The EEOC, which enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), has also issued guidance regarding vaccines in the employment context. Specifically, in March 2020, the EEOC addressed whether employers covered by the ADA and Title VII can compel employees to receive the influenza vaccine. In this guidance, it was noted that there was not a COVID-19 vaccine yet.

Additionally, the EEOC explained that an employee may be entitled to an exemption from a mandatory vaccine based on a disability that prevents the employee from taking the vaccine. This would be considered a reasonable accommodation, and the employer would be required to grant the accommodation, unless it creates an undue hardship for the employer. The EEOC also states that, under Title VII, employees with sincerely held religious beliefs may be entitled to an exemption from a mandatory vaccination as a reasonable accommodation, unless it creates an undue hardship for the employer. Further, there is a legal standard, with varying interpretations, for determining what is considered a “sincerely held religious belief.”

To complicate matters, the standard for what is considered an “undue hardship” under the ADA and Title VII are different, which can lead to confusion about what an employer is able to do about an employee objection. As such, these exemptions and the discrimination risk posed by mandating employees to receive any vaccine—including a COVID-19 vaccine when and if it becomes available—have led the EEOC to advise employers to simply encourage vaccination rather than mandating it.

Employer Considerations

In addition to federal regulations and guidance, there are a host of considerations employers need to review before coming to a decision on whether to encourage or require employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, including:

  • State rules and exemption

    In addition to federal requirements, many states also have rules about mandating vaccines for certain industries, such as healthcare and childcare providers. Some states also permit exemption based on state laws that protect an employee’s right to engage in outside political activities (e.g., “anti-vax” advocates), such as California and New York. Employers must be aware of the specific rules impacting their industry and location.

  • Evaluating undue safety burdens

    Employers will face the challenge of determining whether an employee poses an undue safety burden on co-workers by choosing not to get vaccinated (if the employer is simply encouraging receiving the vaccine) or being exempt from a mandated vaccination. When evaluating this consideration, employers will need to decide whether there are other precautions that can be put into place to protect employees, which may include:

    • Social distancing protocols
    • Requiring employees to wear masks at work
    • Leveraging remote work arrangements
  • Assessing and granting exemptions

    If employers decide to require employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine, they will need to be prepared for the difficult task of determining whether an individual worker qualifies for a reasonable accommodation in the form of an exemption from receiving the vaccine under the ADA or Title VII, or under state laws. This assessment would need to be done on a case-by-case basis and could potentially leave an employer open to legal action should they wrongly deny an exemption request. In addition, the employer will also have to navigate protecting the rest of the workforce should an employee be exempt from being vaccinated.

  • Evaluating legal risks of requiring vaccines

    Employers need to consider the possibility that they may receive legal claims if they require employees to be vaccinated and an employee experiences an adverse reaction to the vaccine or develops subsequent health problems. 

  • Sorting out the logistics of requiring or recommending vaccination

    Regardless of whether employers require or mandate COVID-19 vaccination, there are logistical elements to consider, including:

    • Will employers hold on-site vaccination clinics?
    • What vaccine, if more than one will be available on the market, will be used?
    • Who will pay for the vaccine?
    • Will the company require or cover the costs of vaccination for the employee’s family?
    • How long after the vaccine becomes available, must workers receive the vaccine, if vaccination is mandated?

In addition to the considerations explained above, employers should consult legal counsel to determine whether there are unique risks to consider for their specific organization.

Employers should begin discussions on the topic of COVID-19 vaccinations at their organization today. Waiting until a COVID-19 vaccine is approved and readily available may leave employers open to overlooking important legal and logistic considerations.

For additional resources and guidance related to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic in the workplace, visit OneDigital’s Coronavirus Advisory Hub.

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