Associated press – What can companies do if workers are not vaccinated against covid-19?
They may demand vaccination and lay off employees who violate the rule, or take other actions such as withholding benefits or charging them more for health insurance.
For months, companies have been encouraging their staff to get vaccinated, in some cases offering incentives such as free time or gift cards. But now, they are increasingly taking a firmer stance and demand, a pressure that has gained momentum since the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). , for its acronym in English).
Employers “feel like they’ve gotten to a point where unvaccinated people aren’t going to do it unless something important forces them to,” said Wade Symons, a partner at consulting firm Mercer.
It is legal for companies to demand the vaccine, and it could fire employees who do not have it. In other cases, they may be asked to wear a mask or undergo periodic tests to detect the virus. Some companies are also considering making those who are not immunized pay more for their health insurance.
At Delta Air Lines, unvaccinated people with the company’s health insurance will pay $ 200 a month to help cover the costs of a possible hospitalization for covid-19.
According to Symons, other firms are more likely to charge smaller amounts, of $ 20 or $ 25, per payroll that will be returned once the employee is vaccinated.
In addition, they could be restricted from using office space, corporate gyms, or limiting business travel to vaccinated ones only. In Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International said it will not pay the quarantine of those in this situation if they test positive for viruses.
The vaccination requirement will be imposed mainly on those businesses that need the work to be face-to-face, Symons pointed out.
Companies will need to make exemptions or tailor the order for those who cannot be immunized for medical or religious reasons.
Walt Disney World and Ohio State University are among the big companies that said they will require the vaccine since Pfizer-BioNTech received final FDA approval. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also noted that the military should start receiving the drug immediately.
Some states like Montana have banned companies from demanding the vaccine or have limited the times they can claim it.