Covid vaccine mandate from employers?

[mgatepi]

Anyone employed by a company mandating the vaccine? How do you feel about this? Would you look for another job if this happens to you?

[svandamme]

I can't imagine that being legal.

Unless off course you work in some kind of care for old or weak patients. Then I would think it could be required for the function.

But i'de just get the vaccine to be honest.. Get this nonsense over and done with.

[Rikao4]

my Ladies Hospital 'strongly encouraged' shot..
but was surprised by the amount of decline of same by staff....
decline.. you must wear mask..
if you get the shot... you must wear mask..
so pick your poison / chances..


Rika

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by svandamme

I can't imagine that being legal.

Unless off course you work in some kind of care for old or weak patients. Then I would think it could be required for the function.

But i'de just get the vaccine to be honest.. Get this nonsense over and done with.

In the US it is legal as long as you allow exemptions due to certain medical and religious reason. There are hospital systems and cruise lines currently requiring employee vaccinations. Many small cruise lines are requiring all passengers above 16 to be vaccinated . Royal Caribbean has a May cruise out of Israel that is requiring everyone over 16 to be vaccinated.

[wdfifteen]

It depends on the industry.
I can see a small company with people in critical positions in the company wanting them vaccinated.
I'm wonder what effect it has on your annual review if vaccination is strongly encouraged and you decline.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I’d tell them to pound sand, it’s none of their business. Seems ripe for a lawsuit too, especially if someone is terminated.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

my Ladies Hospital 'strongly encouraged' shot..
but was surprised by the amount of decline of same by staff....
decline.. you must wear mask..
if you get the shot... you must wear mask..
so pick your poison / chances..


Rika

Same for the hospital where my wife works. I was a bit surprised they didn't make it mandatory being they're in a healthcare environment. But! If it's not in an employee handbook somewhere that you must get vaccinations in order to work I can't see how they could enforce it.

[URY914]

Not required at my hospital system. From what I've heard there is resistance from the younger employees (nurses) to get it.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I’d tell them to pound sand, it’s none of their business. Seems ripe for a lawsuit too, especially if someone is terminated.

EEOC has already ruled that it is acceptable if exemptions are made for religious or medical reasons. Nurses have been fired in the past for not adhering to flu vaccine policy. This is not new.

[island911]

I've passed on jobs when they've required employees to pee in a cup, so...

[Sooner or later]

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/royal-caribbean-require-crew-vaccinated

Royal Caribbean expects vaccinations will be required for all crew going forward, a company spokesman confirmed to Travel Leisure on Friday.

The cruise line, which resumed sailings in Singapore in December, is still working on a timeline for the vaccines. The spokesman said a decision had not yet been announced about whether passengers would have to be vaccinated as well.

"We have been working hard, in collaboration with government entities, scientists and experts to continue to develop our plan to keep our guests, crew and communities we visit safe," a letter to employees read. "The new COVID-19 vaccines present a new opportunity to do just that. The vaccines are a way to build protection for you, your loved ones and our guests.

"So far, several vaccines have shown to be effective at preventing both mild and severe symptoms of COVID-19, and we intend to make them a key component of our healthy return to service," the letter continued. "Therefore, we expect vaccinations will be required for our crew as part of our plan for your return to working on our ships."

The decision follows a similar one from Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which said last month they would look to vaccinate all crew members before returning to sailing. Additionally, it comes after several cruise lines, including two in the U.S., announced they would require all passengers to be vaccinated before boarding.


The concept also extends beyond just cruise ships. Earlier this month, Etihad Airways became the first airline in the world to vaccinate 100% of its pilots and cabin crew, while Singapore Airlines has been working to do the same. Several countries have also embraced the idea of vaccine passports, including the Seychelles, Iceland, and Denmark.

Most of Royal Caribbean's sailings remain on pause through at least April 30th, according to the company, but the cruise line is still looking toward the future. A date has yet to be set for the test sailings, which are required as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Conditional Sail" Order.

[aigel]

The vaccines are still under emergency authorization of the FDA. This is why everyone is treading lightly. Once that's no longer the case and the vaccines are fully approved, it will be a requirement in many organizations. For example the US armed forces currently only encourage getting vaccinated but once it is fully approved, you bet it will be a requirement.

This is a big deal right now because it is a new disease with a new vaccine. But it is nothing new for employers or even schools to require a vaccination record as a prerequisite for employment or access. Put yourself into the business owner's shoes. Do you operate at reduced capacity and risk an outbreak or just get everyone in the company vaccinated and move on? I know what I'd do if I owned a business.

[mgatepi]

Interesting responses....Thank you
We had quit the heated debate this morning in our managers meeting. Some are adamantly against it while others are equally for a company wide mandate.
I have spent some time today speaking with other "like" companies and I can say that no one is mandating the vaccine.....currently. And an informal poll, taken by me at our company, puts our group at about 60/40, 60% wanting to get the vaccine ASAP.

[cabmandone]

The 40% is planning to use the 60% as their canary in the coal mine. If y'all don't drop over dead, they might go get the vaccine too.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

In the US it is legal as long as you allow exemptions due to certain medical and religious reason. There are hospital systems and cruise lines currently requiring employee vaccinations. Many small cruise lines are requiring all passengers above 16 to be vaccinated . Royal Caribbean has a May cruise out of Israel that is requiring everyone over 16 to be vaccinated.

How can an employer tell you what you should do with your own body?
Let's say you don't want it (i'm not arguing that's the right idea).

Your employer says, I want all my employees vaccinated, full stop
The business is not customer facing, for instance some kind of factory making some kind of parts.

1 How the hell can they tell you what to do with your own body at that point ?!?!
2 How the hell could such a medical or religious reason be argued? It's an invasion of privacy that you would have to tell your employer what religion you have. It's a violation of medical privacy to have to tell you what ailment you may have.

I don't think any of that would hold up in court, at all.

Not if the job itself isn't something like being a nurse in a cancer ward, or donor recovery , for people with no immunity that can't take a vaccine..
At that point the job itself would mandate it because it poses a risk to others.

Similar example..
Rabies vaccine required by employer for people who are expected to work with rabies infected animals in a research facility.
Makes sense
requiring Rabies vaccine by employer that doesn't work with animals at all
Not legally enforceable.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by cabmando

The 40% is planning to use the 60% as their canary in the coal mine. If y'all don't drop over dead, they might go get the vaccine too.

Yup. After it goes through the same protocols as every other vaccine. Then maybe.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by svandamme

How can an employer tell you what you should do with your own body?
Let's say you don't want it (i'm not arguing that's the right idea).

Your employer says, I want all my employees vaccinated, full stop
The business is not customer facing, for instance some kind of factory making some kind of parts.

1 How the hell can they tell you what to do with your own body at that point ?!?!
2 How the hell could such a medical or religious reason be argued? It's an invasion of privacy that you would have to tell your employer what religion you have. It's a violation of medical privacy to have to tell you what ailment you may have.

I don't think any of that would hold up in court, at all.

Not if the job itself isn't something like being a nurse in a cancer ward, or donor recovery , for people with no immunity that can't take a vaccine..
At that point the job itself would mandate it because it poses a risk to others.

Similar example..
Rabies vaccine required by employer for people who are expected to work with rabies infected animals in a research facility.
Makes sense
requiring Rabies vaccine by employer that doesn't work with animals at all
Not legally enforceable.

it is already happening. Cruise lines are requiring employees to be vaccinated. Some are even requiring customers to be vaccinated.

EEOC has ruled that the practice is acceptable for the covid vaccine. The same mandatory requirement has been on the books for the flu vaccine for years, just not many organizations have chosen to do so.

I wouldn't do so under an EUA. Both Pfizer and Moderna will be filing for full authorization within the next couple of months. I wouldn't be surprised to see full authorization by the end of the summer.

[jcommin]

Right now, you can't get in my facility without wearing a mask. I wear it at my desk - the only time I don't wear it if when I eat and drink. I certainly will wear it when I leave my desk.

I just got the first shot and I was given a card with my name, DOB, the date of vaccine and type. I plan on carrying a copy of it in my wallet. BTW, there is an App for that too.

I can see opting out of a vaccine for various reasons: medical, religious, etc. https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/belgium-all-news/154735/fact-check-are-vaccines-halal-and-kosher/

[onewhippedpuppy]

Are the vaccine cards hand written like they are for kids? If so, that’s gotta be the easiest thing on earth to forge.

[mgatepi]

It is 100% legal to mandate the vaccine at your place of employment. Cleared by the EEOC and OSHA