COVID-19 vaccines are available for residents 16 and older in places like NRG park. That’s excellent news for the health and safety of the community. It’s also a glimmer of hope for the economy. However, for employers, it’s yet another pandemic-related dilemma. Having 80 percent or more of your workforce vaccinated is ideal for overall wellness and productivity. Be that as it may, getting that many people to take the coronavirus vaccine is an uphill battle.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission precluded in December of 2020 that employers would have the right to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for all employees (with some exemptions). The agency’s declaration isn’t law-bound, and it also leaves many employer liabilities. That’s why some businesses have opted to take a different approach.
Where Do You Stand?
The biggest question to consider is where you stand in all of this? Do you believe it’s best to mandate COVID-19 vaccines, or do you believe it’s best to allow your staff to decide for themselves? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, perhaps this information will help you decide.
Benefits of Company-Mandated Vaccine Policies
Let’s start with the advantages of requiring employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Safer Workforce – Although the vaccines aren’t 100% protection from the coronavirus, they’re pretty close. If most of your employees get vaccinated, it significantly reduces the likelihood that they’ll contract or spread COVID-19 to their coworkers, customers, and families.
- Increased Productivity – If even one employee gets the coronavirus, it can slow down your entire operation. The time it takes to sanitize the premises, inform other employees, and wait for COVID-19 results is time you can’t get back. Your business could be down for several days or weeks. However, if you require COVID-19 vaccines, the chances of this happening are less and productivity increases.
- Better Morale – Employees are hesitant to return to the workplace for fear they’ll contract the coronavirus. Those that do come back to in-person operations, they’re often stressed about the potential risks. When your team is emotionally overwhelmed, they’re unable to perform their best. Mandating everyone to get vaccinated would ultimately ease fears and boost morale.
Disadvantages Of COVID-19 Workplace Mandates
Now that you know what makes mandates worth it let’s look at some of the cons.
- Violating Employee Rights – Some exemptions employers must keep in mind when deciding whether to mandate COVID-19 vaccines. Employees with religious beliefs or disabilities may not want the vaccine to have a right to object. The American Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VII prevent employers from discriminating or firing employees under these categories. If you do, you could be looking at a lawsuit.
- New Hires – Whether you’re a new business owner or a company looking to fill vacant positions, you should also consider the opinion of new hires. While job seekers are prepared to undergo a background check for a job, they’re not expecting to have to take a vaccine despite their concerns, religious beliefs, or disabilities. You may have difficulty filling vacant positions.
- Reasonable Accommodations – If you require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, you’ll also be responsible for providing reasonable accommodations. If any employee can’t afford to take the day off, doesn’t have access to reliable transportation, or doesn’t have health insurance, you’ll have to pitch in. If you’re already working with a tight budget, this could be an expense that you can’t afford.
Now that COVID-19 vaccines are available for residents of Katy, Texas, the opportunity to return to “normal” seems more realistic. While business owners are simply trying to get back on track, company-mandated vaccine policies may not be the way to go about it. When you consider the pros and cons, you can make a more informed decision about whether you will enforce vaccinations or simply encourage them. If you opt for the latter, there are several companies you can use as examples do to so successfully.
