What can employers do if workers avoid COVID-19 vaccines? That we all might think, well for this they can require vaccination and fire employees who don’t comply or take other actions such as withholding company perks or charging extra for health insurance.
The workers at various businesses have been encouraged for months to get vaccinated, in some cases incentives are being offered like time off or gift cards. But more are taking a harder attitute and requiring vaccinations for any remaining holdouts, a push that has gained momentum since Pfizer’s vaccine recently received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Wade Symons, a partner with Mercer, a benefits consultant said, Employers “feel like they’ve sort of hit that point where the unvaccinated are not going to do it unless there’s something significant making them do it.”
For businesses, its legal to require the shots and could fire employees who don’t follow the protocols. In other cases, workers might be required to wear masks or get regular tests for the virus. While there are companies that are also considering making the unvaccinated pay more for their health insurance.
At Delta Air Lines, the employees who are not vaccinated on the company health plan will be charged $200 a month to help cover costs for possible coronavirus hospital stays.
Symons said other employers will more likely add smaller charges of $20 or $25 per paycheck that might be reimbursed once the employees are vaccinated.
Employers might also have to stop the use of office space, company gyms or business travel only for the vaccinated. MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas, has said that the employees who have been not vaccinated yet will not be paid for time off to quarantine if they test positive for the virus.
Symons said, vaccine requirements will mainly come from businesses that need workers on a job site. Employers have to offer exemptions or accommodations from vaccine requirements for some who don’t get the shots for medical or religious reasons.
Walt Disney World and Ohio State University are among the large employers that said they’ll make vaccination compulsory since Pfizer’s shot was given the FDA’s full approval.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also has said that military troops must immediately begin to get the vaccine. Some states like Montana have either banned employers from requiring vaccines or limited when they can issue such a mandate